ABSTRACT
Any discussion of problem solving first owes its readers a definition. Unfortunately, no simple definition is available. Problem solving is not a single entity but rather a set of flexibly organized skills brought to bear in varying degrees in any complex, novel task for which the appropriate solution is not immediately evident. It involves elements such as goal establishment (planning), data gathering (selection of relevant information, monitoring, use of feedback), and information integration (reasoning). The term can subsume such diverse activities as playing a game of twenty questions, solving math word problems, or fixing a stalled car.
