Specific, usually physical, features of a problem. Focusing on them can prevent finding a solution since there may not be strong parallel between the surface features of a target and source problem.

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Using the solution to a similarly structured problem can help solve a problem at hand.

Analogical problem solving

Goldstein, E. B. (2014). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience. Nelson Education.


Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience

How people transfer experience from one problem to another. 

Analogical transfer

A patient needs a tumor destroyed to survive. A ray can destroy a tumor but will also kill healthy tissue if left in one place. At lower doses the ray is harmless but won't kill the tumor. Without a source problem, participants had trouble solving it.

Radiation problem

Gick and Holyoak propose that there are 3 steps in analogical problem solving:
- Noticing
- Mapping
- Applying

Steps in analogical problem solving

Surface features

The underlying principles that govern the solution. Often the functionality and effects that interactions with the surface features have. 

Structural features

The process where two problems are compared and the correspondence is determined. Practicing it improves recognition of structural similarities.

Analogical encoding 

While it may be difficult to use analogical problem solving in laboratory research, they are used often and effectively in the real world.

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