Voskoglou Michael Gr. [mvoskoglou@gmail.com]
Graduate Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, Patras, Greece
Download in PDF: http://fmo-journal.fizmatsspu.sumy.ua/journals/2020-v3-25-1/2020_3-25-Voskoglou_FMO.pdf

MODES OF THINKING IN PROBLEM SOLVING

Formulation of the problem: Problem Solving affects our daily lives in a direct or indirect way for centuries. Volumes of research have been written about it and attempts have been made by scientists to make it accessible to all in various degrees. The modes of thinking used in Problem Solving is, therefore, a very interesting and timely subject to study. The present paper discusses the main modes of thinking involved in PS, which are Critical Thinking (CrT), Computational Thinking (CT) and Statistical Thinking (ST). Emphasis is given to ST and in particular to Bayesian Reasoning due to its great importance for everyday life and science that only recently has been fully recognized. We start with a brief description of the use of CrT in PS. Next ST and the necessity of combining it with CrT in PS is discussed, while Bayesian reasoning is studied separately afterwards. Next the role of CT for solving complex technological problems is examined and the paper closes with the final conclusion.
Materials and methods. The methods of analysis used are based on a synthesis of already reported researches and on suitable examples illustrating our results.
Results. The article studies the role of Statistical Thinking in Problem Solving, where the problem is considered with its wide meaning (not mathematical problems only). Particular emphasis is given to Bayesian Reasoning, whose importance in everyday life and science applications has been only recently fully recognized. Critical and Computational Thinking, the other two main modes of thinking used in Problem Solving, are also discussed.
Conclusions. Problem Solving is a complex cognitive process that needs the combination of several modes of thinking in order to be successful. Those modes, apart from the simple spontaneous thinking, include Critical, Statistical and Computational Thinking.
KEY WORDS: Problem Solving (PS), Critical Thinking (CrT), Statistical Thinking (ST), Computational Thinking (CT), Bayesian Reasoning, Fuzzy Logic (FL).

СПОСОБИ МИСЛЕННЯ ПРИ ВИРІШЕННІ ПРОБЛЕМ
Майкл Г. Воскоглу
Вищий технологічний освітній інститут Західної Греції, Греція

Постановка проблеми. Вирішення проблем впливає на наше повсякденне життя прямим чи опосередкованим чином протягом століть. Способи мислення, що використовуються при вирішенні проблем, є актуальним предметом дослідження.
Матеріали та методи. Використані методи аналізу засновані на синтезі вже відомих досліджень та відповідних прикладів, що ілюструють наші результати.
Результати. У статті вивчається роль статистичного мислення при вирішенні проблем, де проблема сприймається у широкому розумінні (не лише математичні проблеми). Особливий наголос приділяється Байєсовому мисленню, значення якого у повсякденному житті та науці застосовується повністю лише нещодавно. Також обговорюються інші два основні способи мислення, що використовуються при вирішенні проблем, – критичне та обчислювальне мислення.
Висновки. Вирішення проблем – це складний пізнавальний процес, який для досягнення успіху обумовлює інтегроване використання кількох способів мислення. Ці способи, крім простого спонтанного мислення, включають критичне, статистичне та обчислювальне мислення.
Ключові слова: вирішення проблеми, критичне мислення, статистичне мислення, обчислювальне мислення, байєсівське міркування, нечітка логіка.

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