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How to Succeed in
Chemical Engineering Series |
How Novices and Experts Solve Problems
Novices
|
Scale |
Experts
|
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Starts solving a problem before fully
understanding what is wanted and/or what a good route for solution will be |
(1) (2) (3)
(4) (5) |
Reviews
the entire plan outlined in Figure 2.3, mentally explores alternative
strategies, and clearly understands what result is to be obtained |
|
Focuses
only on a known problem set that he or she has seen before and tries to match
the problem with one in the set |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Concentrates
on similarities to and differences from known problems; uses genetic
principles rather than problem matching |
|
Chooses
one procedure without exploring alternatives |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Examines
several procedures serially or in parallel |
|
Emphasizes
speed of solution, unaware of blunders |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Emphasizes
care and accuracy in the solution |
|
Does
not follow an organized plan of attack; jumps about, and mixes
problem-solving strategies |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Goes
through the problem-solving process step by step, checking, reevaluating, and
recycling from dead ends to other valid paths |
|
Is
unaware of missing data, concepts, laws |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Knows
what principles might be involved and where to get missing data |
|
Exhibits
bad judgment, makes unsound assumptions |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Carefully
evaluates the necessary assumptions |
|
Gives
up solving the problem because he or she does not know enough |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Knows
what the difficulty is and is willing to learn more that will provide the
information needed |
|
Gives
up solving the problem because he or she does not have skills to branch away
from a dead-end strategy |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Aware
that a dead end may exist for a strategy and has planned alternative
strategies if a dead end is reached |
|
Is
unable to make approximations or makes bad ones |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Makes
appropriate approximations |
|
Cannot
conceive of disagreeing |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Disagrees
with other experts |
|
Slavishly
follows instructions; proceeds by the book |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Breaks
rules and makes exceptions |
|
Does
not know what to make of qualitative data |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Is
able to deal with qualitative data |
|
Ignores
possible limits |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Recognizes
limits |
|
Fritters
times way |
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) |
Manages
time well |