Columbia University

Trial and error is a common problem-solving strategy that involves attempting various solutions sequentially until the problem is solved, as captured by the adage, 'If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.' While widely used, this method is not always the most time-efficient approach.

Trial and Error

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Which of the Following is an Example of a Trial and Error Problem-Solving Strategy?

An application of the trial and error strategy to a broken printer problem would involve a series of sequential checks. For instance, one might first check the ink levels. If that fails, the next step could be to check for a paper jam. If the printer still doesn't work, one might then verify that it is properly connected to the computer. This process of trying different potential solutions continues until the issue is resolved.

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