Ball, Linden J. and Evans, Jonathan St. B. and Dennis, Ian Dennis and Ormerod, Thomas C. (1997) Problem-solving Strategies and Expertise in Engineering Design. Thinking and Reasoning, 3 (4). pp. 247-270.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
A study is reported which focused on the problem-solving strategies employed by expert electronics engineers pursuing a real-world task: integrated-circuit design. Verbal protocol data were analysed so as to reveal aspects of the organisation and sequencing of ongoing design activity. These analyses indicated that the designers were implementing a highly systematic solution-development strategy which deviated only a small degree from a normatively optimal top-down and breadth-first method. Although some of the observed deviation could be described as opportunistic in nature, much of it reflected the rapid depth-first exploration of tentative solution ideas. We argue that switches from a predominantly breadth-first mode of problem solving to depth-first or opportunistic modes may be an important aspect of the expert’s strategic knowledge about how to conduct the design process effectively when faced with difficulties, uncertainties, and design impasses.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Journal or Publication Title: | Thinking and Reasoning |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
| Departments: | Faculty of Science and Technology > Psychology |
| ID Code: | 10578 |
| Deposited By: | Prof Tom Ormerod |
| Deposited On: | 21 Jul 2008 11:06 |
| Refereed?: | Yes |
| Published?: | Published |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jul 2012 14:50 |
| Identification Number: | |
| URI: | http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/10578 |
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