A new way of thinking about a problem that aids its solution is called what?

A new way of thinking about a problem that aids its solution is called what?

• A. Restructuring
• B. Generalization
• C. Transfer
• D. Declarative Knowledge

Answer: (B)

Generalization is applying a rule or strategy you’ve learned to new problems that share the same underlying structure. It’s the move from knowing a method to using it in unfamiliar contexts, so you think about the problem in a broader way and can solve it more efficiently. For example, once you recognize a pattern in solving a type of equation, you generalize that approach to similar equations with different numbers. This is distinct from restructuring, which is about changing how you represent the problem in your mind to unlock a solution, and from declarative knowledge, which is simply facts you know. Transfer overlaps with generalization but is typically framed as applying knowledge to a different domain. In this case, the idea of extending a known strategy to new problems best captures the concept.

Generalization is applying a rule or strategy you’ve learned to new problems that share the same underlying structure. It’s the move from knowing a method to using it in unfamiliar contexts, so you think about the problem in a broader way and can solve it more efficiently. For example, once you recognize a pattern in solving a type of equation, you generalize that approach to similar equations with different numbers. This is distinct from restructuring, which is about changing how you represent the problem in your mind to unlock a solution, and from declarative knowledge, which is simply facts you know. Transfer overlaps with generalization but is typically framed as applying knowledge to a different domain. In this case, the idea of extending a known strategy to new problems best captures the concept.