Problem-Solving Reflection
Problem-solving is a complex cognitive task that changes or develops as an individual matures and acquires more information. By understanding the human cognitive process, one can gain insight into human actions and reactions which can offer strategies to solve different problems (Sarathy, 2018). Different problem-solving strategies may be applied at various stages of life depending on the amount of information gained. This means that after reflection, a newer strategy can be adopted, rendering the previous one obsolete. This paper explains my use of visual-imagery techniques to solve problems that involved moving large furniture and lost direction and a reflection of the techniques used then.
During my teenage years, my family moved quite often to different rental homes, which sometimes happened on short notice. One of my biggest problems during these shifts was moving larger furniture, which because of urgency, I had no time to disassemble. For instance, the large sofas proved difficult to move through the doors regardless of the attempts to use different angles. To solve this problem, we applied visual imagery techniques that involved sketching the sofas and the doorway on a piece of paper and illustrating it to everyone else.
According to Farmer and Martin (2019), visual imagery gives one the advantage of viewing and solving problems through figures beyond concrete representations. An appropriate angle was at last obtained after getting a more visual representation of the sofa and door problem, which with the help of a few individuals, helped move them. However, with a grown cognitive ability over the years, I have realized there were potentially better alternatives to the problem then. Presented with the same problem today, I would include more strategies for the problem-solving equation, such as the use of a hierarchical tree diagram. Diagrams provide an individual with abstract information and essentially present it in a concrete way (Sarathy, 2018). The hierarchical tree diagram begins with a single item and branches into two or more, that also branches into others, and so on. These details help in exploring various options at distinct levels of a problem. It also provides alternative solutions to a problem based on available resources (Farmer & Martin, 2019). For instance, the first abstract information from the diagrams would have been the question of ‘where else can the sofa fit?’ which would broaden the spectrum of considerations such as the window, which was wider than the door. The window is, however, a typically less- thought-off alternative in visual imagery techniques, especially when moving large furniture or household items. Using the window would essentially require less time and resources.
The other major problem was getting lost with a few friends every time we moved to a different home. In two specific instances, we lost track of our way back along with dead phones in the middle of new places during a ‘girls’ day out.’ During the first instance, we went out to skateboard, and the second was a mountain hike. Because the family often moved to different houses during my teenage years, it had become hard to keep track of all of our house addresses which made it harder to ask for directions. Getting lost in a new place or a forest can be a challenge as one is likely to be exposed to different dangers, including kidnaps and wild animals. To solve the puzzle of the appropriate route, much like the previous challenge I used the visual imagery technique to paint a mental picture of the route patterns used in an attempt to recreate the initial directions taken. The visual recognition process of identifying people or objects involves identifying the specific features or characteristics that combine to form these objects or places (Farmer & Martin, 2019). For example, when trying to paint a mental image of directions taken, one can recall certain features like a tower, a hospital, a school, or any other unique view that combines to make that place. In my case, I recalled specific shops we had stopped over, certain junctions, and schools we had seen. In the forest, there was the memory of stream path diversions.
Presented with the same problem today, the visual-imagery technique would still be the most appropriate. However, it would be more efficient when integrated with the analogy approach. Visual imagery utilizes linguistics and visual-spatial circuits of the brain, which offer a stronger cognitive association with one’s memory (Sarathy, 2018). the analogy technique, on the other hand, enables one to refer back to previous successful encounters that had similar problems. Analogical problem-solving framework answers two questions; how accessible is the prior information? And how easily can that information be transferred and applied to new problems (Keefer & Landau, 2016)? When integrated, the two strategies would make it easy to recall a similar scenario and apply strategies, then let the brain attempt to use them to craft a solution fast. This would reduce the amount of time significantly.
Various problem-solving strategies offer different ways of perceiving a problem and finding solutions. The type of strategy applied is greatly determined by the amount of information accessed by an individual. In my teenage years, I had to deal with the problems of moving large pieces of furniture and getting lost in new places. To solve these problems, I made use of visual imagery techniques that provided a solution that was viable then. However, having accessed more information, today I would solve the same problems by integrating the hierarchical tree diagram, and analogy approaches to the initially chosen strategies.
References
Farmer T., & Matlin M. (2019). Cognition (10th Edition). John Wiley & Sons Keefer, L. A., & Landau, M. J. (2016). Metaphor and Analogy in Everyday Problem Solving. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science, 7(6), 394-405. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcs.1407
Sarathy, V. (2018). Real World Problem-Solving. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 261. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00261
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Question 
Evaluate applied research in the field for identifying neural mechanisms of problem-solving.
Problem-Solving Reflection
Choose two current peer-reviewed articles to compare. What similarities and differences do the two articles explain for neural mechanisms?