Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Problem-solving Strategies and Expertise in Engineering Design.
AU - Ball, Linden J.
AU - Evans, Jonathan St. B.
AU - Dennis, Ian Dennis
AU - Ormerod, Thomas C.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
U2 - 10.1080/135467897394284
DO - 10.1080/135467897394284
M3 - Journal article
VL - 3
SP - 247
EP - 270
JO - Thinking and Reasoning
JF - Thinking and Reasoning
SN - 1354-6783
IS - 4
ER -