Abstraction

Activities

• Activity 1: Clarifying and itemising the problem or task
• Activity 3: Searching for solution principles and their solutions

Description

Abstraction is about hiding information that is not relevant to the current objective. This is done primarily by generalizing and simplifying by foregoing details so that an overarching connection can be found. The complexity is reduced and essential features emerge.

Procedure

1. Define criteria for abstracting
2. Abstraction in the form of a new definition
3. Considering the abstraction e.g. the emerging features or solution ideas for the generalized problem

Sources

• Ehrlenspiel and Meerkamm 2017, p. 491-494
• Pahl et al. 2007, p. 75