stages of problem solving

The cognitive process starts in the event of some problems or hurdles and ends when a solution is found or goal is reached

1. Stages of Problem Solving
Dr Rajesh Verma
Assistant Professor in Psychology
Govt. College Adampur, Hisar (Haryana)

2. Definition
“Theprocessoffindingsolutionstoproblem”.
“Thecognitiveprocessstartsintheeventofsome
problemsorhurdlesandendswhenasolutionisfoundor
goalisreached”.
Problemsolvingis
“thinkingthatisdirected
towardthesolvingofa
specificproblemthat
involvesboththeformation
ofresponsesandthe
selectionamongpossible
responses”(Solso,2006).

3. Introduction
Thepsychologicalresourcessuchasgoal-directed
creativethinking,arepooledtogethertocomeupwith
solutions.Theindividualswhouse
theseresourcesintelligentlyand
tactfullysolvecomplexproblemseasily.
Beingacognitiveprocessitfollowsa
certainsequenceorwecansaythat
thereisawellorderedpatterntobe
followedtosolveaproblem.Some
psychologistscallit‘Problem-solving
cycle’.Theproblemishalfsolvedwhen
itisoptimallyrepresentedinthe
landscapeofmind.Itisachievedby
followingastereotypicalsequenceas
suggestedbyHayes(1989)(Solso,2006).

4. Stages
Problemsolvinghasfollowingsevenstages:-
1.Identifyingtheproblem,
2.Representationoftheproblem,
3.Planningthesolution(setsubgoals),
4.Evaluateallpossiblesolutions,
5.Selectonesolutionandexecuteit,
6.Evaluatethesolutionoroutcome,and
7.Rethinkand
redefineproblem
andsolutions.

6. Letusunderstandthesestagesinthelightofa
hypotheticalproblemorchallenge.
“Yourbigday,ofcourse,marriageisapproachingfast
andyouhavetodolotsofthings!”
1.Identifyingtheproblem–Themostimportantstepis
identificationoftheproblemthroughdifferentiatingfacts
fromopinion.Inthisprocessproblem’sallpossiblecauses
areidentified,
definedand
understood.
“Only9daysare
leftforthebig
dayyouneedto
plananddoalot”

7. 2.Representationoftheproblem–Representation
meansintegrationandtranslationofproblemwithin
thecognitivedomain.Aworkingmentalmodelofthe
problemisconstructed(eduhk.hk)whereeach
componentoftheproblemistakenintoaccount.The
representationofaproblemisasimportantasfinding
solutionoftheproblem.
“Meetingthewedding
demandsneeds
understandingthe
requirementsforwhicha
cognitivemapistobe
createdtoachievethegoalwithintimeframe”.

8. 3.Planningthesolution(setsubgoals)–Thisis
decisionmakingstagewhereprobablesolutionsare
listed.Thesolutionsaresubdividedintosmallergoals
thathelpsingeneratingalternatives.Acomprehensive
thoughtgenerallyknownasbrainstorming,isappliedto
thesepotentialsolutionsandsub-solutions.
“Theprobableshopsforshoppingvariousarticlesare
earmarked,wedding
venueandcaterersare
identifiedforfinal
bookingetc.”

9. 4.Evaluateallpossiblesolutions–Inthisstageall
identifiedpotentialsolutionsincludingprovenare
evaluatedfortheirefficiencyinmeetingthe
requirementsthrownopenbytheproblem.Post
evaluationtheselectedalternativeistobeclearlystated
andexplained.
“Afterallshops,
venuesandother
serviceproviders
areevaluatedfor
providingbest
servicesintimeat
reasonablerates”.

10. 5.Selectonesolutionandexecuteit–Atthisstage
theoneprobablesolutionisselectedamongtheall
evaluatedsolutionsforimplementation.The
implementationprocessiscrucialstepbecauseitwill
havehugeimpactontheoutcome.
“Nowearmarkthefavouriteshopforyourweddingdress
andotherimportantsetofapparels,earmarkbestvenue
andotherserviceproviderswhoprovidetimelybest
servicewithin
reasonablerates.
Nowunleashyour
feelingsand
emotionsandgo
forshopping
spree!”

11. 6.Evaluatethesolutionoroutcome–Thisisthestageof
technicalitieswheretheoutcomeoftheprobablesolutionis
objectivelyevaluated.Theeachaspectofoutcomeis
carefullywithoutanybiasorprejudiceisweighedforpro
andcons.Ifrequiredfeedbackfromallstakeholdersalso
canbesoughtforbetterandclearassessment.
“Afteryouhavemadeyourpurchases,testeachforitscolour
combination,cost,fitting,
yourlooksetc.Seekothers
helpinanalysisandaskthem
thattheyarefreetocriticize
iftheyfeelliketodoso.Do
notworryyoustillhavetime
forreplacement!”

12. 7.Rethinkandredefineproblemandsolutions–This
isreviewstagewheretheoutcomesarereviewed.If
solutionisbestfitwellandgood.Andifanalysisdonein
previousstepdemandsredefiningandrefinementthengo
forit.Thisisstageisimportantbecause:
(i)Itwillletyou
knowwhatactually
worked.
(ii)Itwillalsolet
youknowwhatdidn’t
worked.
(iii)Itwillprovide
feedbackoneffectand
impactofsolution.

13. (iv)Offerscopeformodification,andreasonsfor
successandofcoursefailuretoo.
“Oh!Great.YouD-daywas
grandsuccess,congratulations.
Stillthereareareasthatneed
refinement,youcanlookinto
thatforthesakeofyounger
sisterorbrother.Your
experiencewillbe
valuableto
them”.

14. References:
1.NCERT,XIPsychologyTextbook.
2.Solso,R.S.(2006).CognitivePsychology.New
Delhi:Pearson.
3.Ciccarelli,S.K.
&Meyer,G.E.
(2016).Psychology.
NewDelhi:Pearson.
4.https://www.
eduhk.hk/apfslt/v8_
issue2/joan/joan3.
htm.

15. [email protected]
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Convergent Thinking