algorithm - any method of production that guarantees an eventual solution

brainstorming - method of production in which a group comes up with every possible idea thhey can, used for divergent thinking

convergent thinking - a production method used to arrive at thesingle correct solution

divergent thinking - a production method used to find multiple, often unusual, solutions

functional fixedness - inability to come up with uses for an object other than those it is untended for

heuristic - a "shortcut" method of production, based on general rules and typicality

insight - sudden realization of the solution to a problem

mental set - responding to similar problems with the same strategy, when the strategy is not effective,

metacognition - thinking about one's own thoughts, often used to study human thought

productive thinking - thinking geared toward coming up with new ideas, used when solving a problem never encountered before

random search - a trial-and-error method of production in which the problem solver tries out random solutions until one is found to me correct

reproductive thinking - method of thinking used when the problem at hand is one similar to one encountered in the past, one attempts to recall his strategy in solving the previous problem