EDA@C.CS.CMU.EDU (Elaine Atkinson) (04/16/87)
SPEAKER: Dr. Stellan Ohlsson, LRDC, University of Pittsburgh
TITLE: "A theory of conceptual thinking applied to the phenomena of
restructuring and insight"
DATE: Tuesday, April 21
TIME: 12:00 - 1:20 p.m.
PLACE: Adamson Wing, Baker Hall
ABSTRACT: Current theories of problem solving focus on the nature and function
of problem solving strategies. However, novel problems cannot, by definition,
be solved by applying a pre-existing strategy; rather, they are solved by
trying to understand the problem situation, a process to be called "conceptual
thinking". According to studies by the Gestalt psychologists, conceptual
thinking exhibits the phenomena of restructuring and insight. A first
approximation theory of restructuring and insight and some relevant data
will be discussed.