Two important factors that influence problem solving are the nature of the task and the kind of knowledge brought to the problem by the solver. After a consideration of the definition of a problem, puzzle problems are discussed, as are problem representation and general processes of solution. Also discussed is the question of solving problems that…

Sixth graders with Australian parents and sixth graders with Greek immigrant parents were given three tasks: memory for a set of 24 pictures, a buttonboard task, and 20 questions. "The results point to the importance of specific strategies on problem-solving tasks and to the importance, in cross-cultural comparisons, of shared understandings…

Different groups of college students wrote one solution or many solutions to problems, like the plot-title problem, of verbal, numerical, and pictorial material. Instructions to write many solutions yielded solutions of lower mean quality, but more superior solutions. Information about criteria for good solutions raised quality. Large quantity was…