SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Problem Solving”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 577 records · Page 32Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Psychometric properties of the Social Problem Solving Inventory (SPSI) with normal and emotionally disturbed adolescents.

The factor structure of the Social Problem Solving Inventory (SPSI; D'Zurilla & Nezu, 1990) was evaluated with a sample of 708 normal adolescents. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the empirically derived five-factor model reported by D'Zurilla and Maydeu-Olivares (1994) using an adult sample, but not the theoretically derived seven-factor structure of the original SPSI. The psychometric properties of the original and revised inventories are reported for normal adolescents and psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents (n = 63). Internal consistency and reliability estimates were adequate. Support for the validity of the revised SPSI was demonstrated by examining the relationship between social skills, depression, and social problem solving; in addition, differences between normal and inpatient adolescent samples were examined. The findings are discussed in terms of the utility of the inventories with adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Asking the right questions: problem solving in male alcoholics and male alcoholics with Korsakoff's syndrome.

The performance of alcoholics and alcoholics with Korsakoff's syndrome was compared with that of nonalcoholic controls on a task which required the generation of a series of questions for the solution of object and digit/letter identification problems. Each subject attempted to determine which of a set of stimuli (objects, letters, or numbers) the examiner had arbitrarily preselected as correct. The nonalcoholic control subjects asked constraint-seeking questions which reduced alternatives by inquiring about general categories (e.g., "Is it a tool?"). In contrast, the two groups of alcoholic patients assumed the far less efficient strategy of asking hypothesis-scanning and pseudo-constraint questions which provided information only about one of the possible stimuli (e.g., "Is it the saw?"). This similarity in the problem-solving strategies of alcoholics both with and without Korsakoff's syndrome is consistent with the hypothesis that the problem-solving deficits of Korsakoff patients are apparent before the acute onset of their amnesic symptoms. These deficits may be due to alcohol-induced damage to the anterior and posterior cerebral cortical association areas which mediate problem-solving and visuoperceptual functions.

Alcohol Amnestic Disorder↗

PubMed2005

It's a bet! A problem-solving approach promotes the construction of contingent agreements.

Negotiators often have different expectations about the future. A contingent agreement, or a bet that makes the ultimate outcome dependent on some future event, builds on negotiators' differences. The authors argue that a problem-solving approach, in which negotiators thoroughly explore options to build on their differences, is most likely to construct contingent agreements. The authors explore two factors expected to influence this problem-solving approach, namely, negotiators' relational and accountability concerns. The authors argue when these considerations are imbalanced, negotiators are less likely to adopt a problem-solving style and construct a contingent agreement. To test this hypothesis, negotiators' relationships and accountability pressures were manipulated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, participants engaged in an integrative negotiation, allowing the authors to examine whether a contingent agreement was constructed and joint gain. Experiment 2 sought to replicate and extend the findings of Experiment 1 using a scenario study. Results across the two experiments support the authors' hypotheses.

Cooperative Behavior↗

PubMed1994

Self-esteem, problem solving, and sexual risk behavior among women with and without Chlamydia.

Self-esteem and problem-solving appraisal were evaluated as an explanation of sexual risk behavior for the sexually transmitted disease (STD), chlamydia. Chlamydia, the most prevalent bacterial STD in the United States, is linked to a variety of problems which affect women, their offspring, and their sex partners. Data were collected by two nurse practitioners during scheduled gynecology visits for 105 military women. There was a statistical association among women with chlamydia (chi 2 = 3.623, df = 1, p = .057) and trichomonas (chi 2 = 12.83, df = 1, p = < .001) and a friable cervix. With a 10% prevalence of chlamydia, accurate diagnosis and treatment are imperative. No differences between the prevalence of chlamydia and self-esteem and problem-solving appraisal were noted. These findings support the strategies for diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of chlamydia recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Effects of instructions and representation on mathematical problem-solving.

We investigated whether specific instructions have different representations for target problems, and hence whether task representations mostly affect the direction of typical errors in permutation problem-solving. We hypothesized that different instructions produce specific representations of a permutation problem in an identical description. The 39 participants were randomly assigned to the three groups: the equation instruction group, the subgoal instruction group, and the control group. Results confirmed our prediction that the treatment groups solved the problem more correctly than the control group. More importantly, a subgoal instruction (a set of steps in a meaningful task) decreased the typical mistakes. Educational implications are discussed.

Humans↗

PubMed1994

Counting on working memory in arithmetic problem solving.

Mental calculation is an important everyday skill involving access to well-learned procedures, problem solving, and working memory. Although there is an active literature on acquiring concepts and procedures for mental arithmetic, relatively little is known about the role of working memory in this task. This paper reports two experiments in which dual-task methodology is used to study the role of components of working memory in mental addition. In Experiment 1, mental addition of auditorily presented two-digit numbers was significantly disrupted by concurrent random letter generation and, to a lesser extent, by concurrent articulatory suppression, but was unimpaired by concurrent hand movement or by presentation of irrelevant pictures. Although the number of errors increased with two of the dual tasks, the incorrect responses tended to be quite close to the correct answer. In Experiment 2, the numbers for addition were presented visually. Here again, random generation produced the largest disruption of mental arithmetic performance, while a smaller amount of disruption was observed for articulatory suppression, hand movement, and unattended auditorily presented two-digit numbers. The overall levels of performance were better and the absolute size of the disruptive effects shown with visual presentation was very small compared with those found for auditory presentation. This pattern of results is consistent with a role for a central executive component of working memory in performing the calculations required for mental addition and in producing approximately correct answers. Visuospatial resources in working memory may also be involved in approximations. The data support the view that the subvocal rehearsal component of working memory provides a means of maintaining accuracy in mental arithmetic, and this matches a similar conclusion derived from previous work on counting. The general implications for the role of working memory in arithmetic problem solving will be discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Effects of self-focused rumination on negative thinking and interpersonal problem solving.

Hypotheses about the effects of self-focused rumination on interpretations of events and interpersonal problem solving were tested in 3 studies with dysphoric and nondysphoric participants. Study 1 supported the hypothesis that dysphoric participants induced to ruminatively self-focus on their feelings and personal characteristics would endorse more negative, biased interpretations of hypothetical situations than dysphoric participants induced to distract themselves from their mood, or nondysphoric participants. Study 2 showed that dysphoric participants who ruminated were more pessimistic about positive events in their future than the other 3 groups. Study 3 showed that dysphoric ruminating participants generated less effective solutions to interpersonal problems than the other 3 groups. In Studies 1 and 3, dysphoric ruminating participants also offered the most pessimistic explanations for interpersonal problems and hypothetical negative events. In all 3 studies, dysphoric participants who distracted were as optimistic and effective in solving problems as non-dysphoric participants.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

[The effects of problem solving nursing counseling and intensified walking exercise on diabetic self-care, coping strategies, and glycemic control among clients with DM Type II].

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of problem solving nursing counseling and intensified walking exercise on diabetic self-care, coping strategies, and glycemic control among older adults with DM type II. METHOD: Ninety nine DM patients who were older than 50 were recruited from DM clinics or public health centers and conveniently assigned into three groups: the Polar (n=41), counseling (n=30) and control groups (n=28). Participants in both Polar and counseling groups attended weekly problem solving nursing counseling for 12 weeks. Polar heart rate monitors were used in the Polar group to intensify walking exercise. Data was collected from November 2003 to August 2004 and analyzed by ANOVA or ANCOVA using the SPSS WIN program. RESULT: After a 12 week intervention, participants in both the Polar and counseling groups reported increased diabetic self care behaviors and decreased blood glucose levels, which is significantly different from those in the control group. There were no distinctively different program effects between the Polar and counseling groups. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, we concluded that problem solving counseling alone could have positive effects on diabetic self care and glycemic controls for older adults with DM. Future research is needed to identify long-term effects of the program.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2001

A community-based trial of vocational problem-solving to increase employment among methadone patients.

UNLABELLED: Unemployment remains a common problem among methadone patients. This study examined the effectiveness of the Vocational Problem-Solving Skills (VPSS) intervention to help unemployed methadone patients obtain employment. METHODS: 109 patients were randomly assigned to receive 10 sessions of either VPSS (n=62) or Interpersonal Problem-Solving (IPS) (n=47). Fourteen counselors from two methadone programs were trained to deliver both the VPSS and IPS counseling sessions. RESULTS: Overall, 93% (101/109) of the patients completed a 6-month follow-up assessment which revealed that 58.6% (34/58) of patients in the VPSS condition were employed, whereas 37.2% (16/43) in the comparison condition worked (chi-square=4.53, 1 df, p<0.05). However, a multinomial regression equation found that the VPSS intervention did not significantly contribute to the prediction of employment. Other factors such as longer length of previous work experience, 40 years of age or older, treatment site, and baseline patient motivation to work emerged as significant predictors. CONCLUSION: Although VPSS alone was not a strong independent predictor of improved employment functioning, improvements in employment functioning were detected at one of the two sites as a function of VPSS.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Strategies to enhance problem solving.

The ability to make high-level decisions based on a strong knowledge base and effective problem-solving strategies is an expected behavior of the professional nurse. The author discusses current knowledge of problem-solving components and teaching strategies as well as promising new computer strategies that are applicable to nursing education and practice.

Cognition↗

PubMed1990

Patients' and spouses' religious problem-solving styles and their physiological health.

From 55 patients after myocardial infarctions and their spouses, responses--metabolic entry and exit scores (1 to 48 mo. postinfarct) and scores on three religious problem-solving styles--showed no problem-solving styles were associated with patients' early improvement but, as time passed, scores on collaboration with God decreased as did those on deferring to God, while self-direction increased. Patients scored lower on collaboration and higher on self-direction than spouses.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Putting the pieces together: preliminary efficacy of a family problem-solving intervention for children with traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a family-centered problem-solving intervention (FPS) for pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to assess the efficacy of the intervention in a randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Families of 32 school-aged children with moderate to severe TBI randomly assigned to FPS or usual care (UC) group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Child Behavior Checklist, Brief Symptom Inventory, Conflict Behavior Questionnaire. INTERVENTION: Seven-session problem-solving/skill-building intervention delivered over a 6-month period for the participating families. RESULTS: Parents in the FPS group reported significantly greater improvements in their children in internalizing symptoms, anxiety/depression, and withdrawal than did parents in the UC comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: FPS holds promise for reducing child behavior problems, the most common and persistent sequelae of TBI.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Family problem-solving with children who have mental retardation.

Problem-solving discussions were observed within families of children with mental retardation and multiple comparison groups (total N = 162 families). As expected, parents were more persistent and directive with their children who had mental retardation, but they also avoided negative exchanges with these children. These patterns did not spillover to interactions with the siblings, though older siblings of young children with mental retardation engaged in frequent negative exchanges with the parents. Irrespective of disability status, child behavior problems were associated with negative parent-child interactions. Also, high levels of family cohesion and independence and low levels of enmeshment and disengagement were associated with fewer negative parent-child exchanges, though these effects were less pronounced for interactions, specifically with children who have mental retardation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

History of family suicide behaviors and negative problem solving in multiple suicide attempters.

This study examined the relationship between family history of suicide, negative problem solving orientation and suicide attempt status (multiple suicide attempters versus single suicide attempters). Suicide attempters with a family history of suicide were more likely to have multiple suicide attempts when compared to suicide attempters who did not have a family history of suicide. This relationship was consistent with a model in which the relationship between family history and suicide attempt status is mediated by negative problem solving. Results of this study are discussed as they pertain to the theory and treatment of suicide attempters.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Content knowledge and problem-solving skill in reviewing medical charts.

Skills in reviewing medical charts have been demonstrated components of clinical competence related to knowledge base, level of clinical experience, and basic observational skills. A study of the generalizability of performance on chart review exercises, which controlled for knowledge in the content area, was undertaken to determine their potential in evaluating students' problem-solving ability. Results of the study indicate that the case specificity which has characterized simulated problem-solving tasks is largely case, rather than content, specificity: correlations between scores on single charts demonstrated no consistent relationships for measures of proficiency, efficiency, and diagnostic accuracy. However, averaging the scores on two charts and then computing correlations resulted in significant positive measures for both proficiency and efficiency. The effects of length and difficulty level on the generalizability of tests of problem-solving ability are areas suggested for future research.

Clinical Clerkship↗

PubMed1990

Administering a microcomputer-based problem-solving examination.

Administering a microcomputer-based problem-solving examination in the basic sciences to medical students poses a series of practical concerns not associated with traditional types of testing. This article reviews the issues of planning, student preparation, exam scheduling, student verification, and software security. Also discussed are the effects on student scores of exam scheduling and of students' familiarity with computers, student evaluations of the exam, and security and technical difficulties.

Allergy and Immunology↗

PubMed2006

The nonlinear dynamical hypothesis in science education problem solving: a catastrophe theory approach.

The current study tests the nonlinear dynamical hypothesis in science education problem solving by applying catastrophe theory. Within the neo-Piagetian framework a cusp catastrophe model is proposed, which accounts for discontinuities in students' performance as a function of two controls: the functional M-capacity as asymmetry and the degree of field dependence/independence as bifurcation. The two controls have functional relation with two opponent processes, the processing of relevant information and the inhibitory process of dis-embedding irrelevant information respectively. Data from achievement scores of freshmen at a technological college were measured at two points in time, and were analyzed using dynamic difference equations and statistical regression techniques. The cusp catastrophe model proved superior (R(2)=0.77) comparing to the pre-post linear counterpart (R(2)=0.46). Besides the empirical evidence, theoretical analyses are provided, which attempt to build bridges between NDS-theory concepts and science education problem solving and to neo-Piagetian theories as well. This study sets a framework for the application of catastrophe theory in education.

Humans↗

PubMed1976

Tape test as a simple new method for the study of compounds increasing the problem-solving ability of the rat.

A simple new method, the "tape test" has been developed for studying the enhancement of learning by drugs in "learning-dull" rats. A piece of adhesive tape is pressed on the left front pad of the rats. The time of tape removal by the animal, i.e., the problem-solving time is measured. In our experiments the selected learning-dull rats were used which were unable to remove the tape within 60 s observed on 3 consecutive days. The problem-solving ability of the rats was studied on 4 consecutive days, by posttrial administration. The problem-solving ability was found to be increased after treatment with different drugs such as para-chlorphenylalanine (PCPA), pemolin, orotic acid, vitamin B12. The stimulatory effect of vitamin B12 could be inhibited by vincristine.

Animals↗