| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

Heuristic Decision Process: Taking it Apart

Page history last edited by Wesley Johnson 13 years, 3 months ago

 

 

 

 

Heuristic Decision Process: Taking it Apart

 

 

 

     Throughout life, we are faced with particular problems that require a certain course of action. These problems or events that require a decision on our behalf must be dealt with accordingly if we are to make the correct decision. Mathematical problems require a certain algorithm that will always bring out a solution. However, these situation differ from scenarios in life outside of mathematics. When one is faced with a scenario that is familiar to past events, a decision can be made empirically by relying on the action that was taken before (if it led to a favorable outcome). The rule of thumb (heuristic) that was created by the past event's outcome is typically selected by the individual because it creates a solution faster than any other method. Most heuristics are simple everyday occurrences; one rule of thumb for someone trying to lose weight might be to ensure that their caloric intake isn't higher than the amount of calories they use in a day. 

                      

 

     However, at times we are faced with situations that might seem familiar, but are truly novel by nature. In these situations, our previous pattern of providing a certain response to a particular condition does not work. If a problem proves to be novel, we must turn to an alternative decision making process.

 

  Hill-Climbing Heuristic

 

The hill-climbing heuristic is similar to the method of trial and error. Using the hill-climbing method, a person generally picks what appears to be the most direct route to the goal at each step. If this choice proves to be incorrect, the person might choose an alternative method to see if it achieves the goal faster. The main disadvantage to this method is that one is only able to see the goal and one step ahead of where they are at that moment. This method is appropriate only for certain tasks though. One example of a type of problem that requires the hill-climbing method is a maze. The maze contains an entrance and an end (respectively, the initial state and the goal state). Each line within the maze becomes an obstacle between the initial state and the goal state. 

 

 

        

Maze A                                                               Maze B

 

Each maze is unique, one method to solve it is through the hill-climbing method to get closer to the end of the maze.

 

  Means-Ends Heuristic

 

     Another problem solving method used is the means-ends heuristic. This method of problem solving involves identifying the main goal of the problem and then dividing that goal into sub-goals to achieve the end. Each sub-goal is a step to the ultimate goal of the problem; because of this, each step is necessary to achieve the final goal. An example of the means-ends heuristic is the game "Towers of Hanoi" which involves discs. The object of the game is to move all the discs from one peg to another without placing a larger disc on a smaller disc. See the video below for a demonstration of the process involved to solve the puzzle.

 

                                                                                                         YouTube plugin error                           

 

  Analogy Approach

 

 

     The most commonly used heuristic is the analogy approach. This method to problem solving involves using an old solution to solve a new problem and find a new solution. In other words, a previous problem is solved effectively and the content learned from the old problem is incorporated into the new problem to find a new solution. In order to use an old solution for a new problem, one must be able to distinguish the basic foundation of the problem at hand and draw a correlation from the new problem to the old problem. This basic foundation is referred to as a "problem isomorph". An example of this can be seen by Joe, an experienced cook who has learned from his past. After cooking his first meal that used cooking oil, Joe put the skillet into the sink and turned on the water before letting the dish cool down. The oil reacted vigorously with the water and scared Joe tremendously. When Joe prepared his next meal that used cooking oil, he let the skillet cool down before putting it into the sink. The use of his previous knowledge provides a solution to an analogous problem at hand.

 

 

 

 


 

Links:

 

Problem Solving Games and Demonstrations: This page has games and visual demonstrations for problem solving in general. Mostly "means-ends" type of problems, but also has hill-climbing heuristic demonstrations.

 

Problem Solving in Psychology : A well rounded site that provides a wonderful ground work on the types of problem solving that is available. Provides excellent examples and has nice images to go along with it.

 

Problem Based Learning at the University of Delaware: Wonderful site for resources, workshop schedules, current news, and other links to advocate problem based learning in the classroom not only for elementary students, but also for undergraduate students.

 

Require Students to use Problem Solving Steps : This encourages the teaching of problem solving strategies to students. Specifically, the analogy approach for teachers is encouraged so they are able to guide students in the right direction from their own experience.

 

MIND Reviews: On Second Thought : On the nature of heuristics and identifying that we do use "mind" shortcuts. It stipulates that heuristics can sometimes lead to quick reasoning that can be bad, and useful at times when the process is automatic and thus frees the mind to use its energy elsewhere.

 

GPS: General Problem Solver : This is one of the first AI programs that simulates human problem solving using the means-ends heuristic method. This program gave way to more sophisticated programs such as SOAR.

 

Problem Solving in Psychology : A well rounded site that provides a wonderful ground work on the types of problem solving that is available. Provides excellent examples and has nice images to go along with it.

 

Problem-Solving Strategies: Algorithms and Heuristics : This site provides general information on problem solving strategies, heuristics, and algorithms. It has a section that is directed toward educators who plan on teaching the topic.

 

Why Change the Way We Teach?: This article supports a teaching problems solving skills to children; it advocates the exploration of problem solvers into the use and foundations of the basic principles and skills for real life problems.

 

Dan Tries Problem-Based Learning: Found from the University of Delaware's website, it discusses the pros and cons of using the alternative learning style that are based on problems. It's interesting to note the cons and pros in this account that are based on a true case study (the names have been fictionalized to protect the participants). 

 

 

 ***To my knowledge, all of the images I have used are not under copyright. Please contact me at 10522708@live.mercer.edu if any of these images are being used inappropriately***

 

*Wikipage created by: Wesley Prophett Johnson

 

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.