Abstract

This article compares the information processing and dynamical systems perspectives on problem solving. Key theoretical constructs of the information-processing perspective include “searching” a “problem space” by using “heuristics” that produce “incremental” changes such as reaching a “subgoal” to solve a puzzle. Key theoretical constructs of the dynamical-systems perspective include “positive attractors”, “negative attractors”, and “latent attractors” that can cause large “nonincremental” changes in the possibility of a solution through the “emergence” of new ideas and beliefs that can resolve a conflict. The proposed alignment maps dynamical-system constructs to information-processing constructs: state space to problem space, negative attractor to impasse, positive attractor to productive subgoal, latent attractor to implicit cognition, and nonincremental change to insight. The purpose of the mapping is to explore similarities and differences between these constructs. Research from cognitive and social psychology illustrates how using constructs from both perspectives is helpful. The concluding section on Future Directions recommends an agenda based on three objectives: (1) create ontologies to organise current knowledge, (2) conduct research to obtain new knowledge, and (3) provide education to inform students about this knowledge.

摘要

本文比较了信息处理和动态系统在解决问题上的观点。信息处理角度的关键理论构造包括通过使用产生“增量”变化（例如达到“子目标”以解决难题）的“启发式”来“搜索”“问题空间”。动力学系统观点的关键理论构造包括“正吸引子”，“负吸引子”和“潜在吸引子”，它们可能通过“出现”新思想和信念而导致解决方案可能性发生较大的“非增量”变化。可以解决冲突。提出的对齐方式将动力系统构造映射到信息处理构造：状态空间到问题空间，负面吸引者到僵局，正面吸引者到生产性子目标，潜在吸引子到内隐认知，以及洞察力的非增量变化。映射的目的是探索这些构造之间的异同。来自认知和社会心理学的研究表明，从两种角度来看都使用结构是有帮助的。关于未来方向的结论部分建议了一个基于三个目标的议程：（1）创建本体来组织当前知识；（2）进行研究以获取新知识；（3）提供教育以使学生了解这一知识。