ABSTRACT
The anatomy or framework for conceptualizing problems has proven useful in understanding the process of problem solving. This chapter suggests for devising good representations and demonstrates the intimate relationship between the representation and the solution to the problem. Recent research in problem solving has focused on the importance of devising a plan for finding and selecting solutions. The generation of multiple goal states will increase the size of the problem space and provide more opportunities for finding a good solution. The procedure by which people select subgoals and use them to progress toward the goal is called means-ends analysis. The split-half method is an excellent search strategy when there is no a priori reason for selecting among a sequentially organized set of possible solution paths. Hierarchical trees or tree diagrams can be useful aids in decision making and problem solving. The important step in problem solving is an assessment of the quality of the solution.
