| 
  • 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

This version was saved 13 years, 4 months ago View current version     Page history
Saved by Wesley Johnson
on November 29, 2010 at 11:59:05 pm
 

 

 

 

 

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 not to eat more than s/he can burn off through physical exercise. 

                      

 

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. The method of trial and error is a heuristic that involves trying different approaches to a problem, or parts of a problem, to reach the desired goal. A person undergoing trial and error will begin with the most prominent method before turning to other alternatives. The trial and error method of problem solving also involves a certain amount of learning to achieve the end. One example of a type of problem that require the trial and error approach to it is a maze.

 

 

        

Maze A                                                               Maze B

 

Because each maze is unique, the only appropriate method to solve it is through trial and error.

 

 

  It is key to note also that after completing a maze successfully, one will be able to redo the maze over again relatively quick. Dr. Radiker conducted a finger maze study at Mercer that used the trial and error method of problem solving. In this study, participants were required to trace the maze while blind-folded using a trial and error method to reach the end. In order to do this, learning had to occur in order for the participants to reach the end of the maze while blind-folded. 

 

 

 

Comments (0)

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