Question

Identify the strategy used in each of the following examples. Choose from: trial and error, algorithm, heuristic, insight, representativeness heuristic, availability heuristic, and single-feature model. You are asked to complete the following sequence: \(\mathrm{O}, \mathrm{T}, \mathrm{T}, \mathrm{F}, \mathrm{F}\) __________ __________ ___________ _________ ____________ You suddenly realize that the answer is obvious: S, S, E, N, T.

Short answer

Insight

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the Sequence

Observe the current sequence: \(\mathrm{O}, \mathrm{T}, \mathrm{T}, \mathrm{F}, \mathrm{F}\) Next, let's look at the completed sequence: \(\mathrm{O}, \mathrm{T}, \mathrm{T}, \mathrm{F}, \mathrm{F}, \mathrm{S}, \mathrm{S}, \mathrm{E}, \mathrm{N}, \mathrm{T}\). We can notice that the sequence represents the first letters of the English numbers in order: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten.

Identify the Strategy Used

First, let's review the definitions of the different strategies provided to help us identify which one was used to complete the sequence. 1. Trial and error: solving a problem through experimentation 2. Algorithm: a precise set of rules to solve a problem 3. Heuristic: a general problem-solving approach, usually a shortcut or rule of thumb that is not always perfect but can provide adequate results 4. Insight: the sudden realization or understanding of the solution to a problem 5. Representativeness heuristic: estimating the likelihood of an event based on its similarity to an existing mental prototype 6. Availability heuristic: estimating the likelihood of an event based on its ease of recall or how easily examples come to mind 7. Single-feature model: making a decision based on one key feature or trait With the sequence now clear, it can be deduced that the strategy used to complete the sequence is:

Answer

Insight: the sudden realization or understanding of the solution to a problem

Key concepts

Insight

Imagine you're trying to solve a puzzle, turning all the pieces around for a perfect fit, and suddenly, it just clicks. You know exactly what goes where. This "a-ha" moment is what we call insight. It's when the answer to a problem seems to appear magically, without conscious effort.

In the original exercise, the task was to complete the sequence: O, T, T, F, F. Without conscious reasoning but rather a subconscious connection, one might suddenly realize these letters correspond to the first letters of the numbers one, two, three, four, and five. This is insight at work.

We often experience insight when we've been thinking about a problem for a while and then, after taking a break or looking at it from a different angle, suddenly see the solution clearly. It's an important part of problem-solving because it can provide quick and often accurate solutions without going through a lengthy process.

Heuristics

Heuristics are mental shortcuts that help us make quick, though sometimes not perfect, judgments and decisions. Think of them as rules of thumb that lead to satisfactory solutions, rather than perfect ones.

In problem-solving, heuristics can help narrow down options without having to analyze each option in detail. For example, if confronted with a large choice, you might instinctively choose the familiar option, which is using the availability heuristic, relying on immediate examples that come to mind.

While insight involves a sudden understanding, heuristics enable decision-making along the way—like knowing the typical shape of puzzle pieces, which guides how you arrange them. Heuristics can include recognizing familiar patterns, estimating potential outcomes, or considering past experiences. They may not always lead directly to the solution but can be effective in simplifying complex decision-making processes.

Sequence Completion

Completing sequences often requires identifying patterns or rules. Such exercises tap into our cognitive abilities to predict and fill in gaps based on observed information.

The given sequence O, T, T, F, F was a pattern that needed completing. Once the pattern of initials from numbers one through ten was realized, predicting the continuation (S, S, E, N, T — six through ten) became straightforward.

Sequence completion can be a mix of recognizing patterns or using past experiences. Like a musical sequence where the listener knows intuitively what note should come next, our mind is trained to see order in what could initially seem like chaos.

This type of problem often exercises our ability to tap into learned knowledge, recent observations, and sometimes intuition to complete tasks effectively.