# Portability: UNIVERSAL
# Last validated: 2026-05-17
# Next review: 2027-05-17

THINKING STRATEGIES
==============
Cognitive and metacognitive strategies for information processing.

Reference: Learning system analysis, docs/help/operators.txt, docs/help/rhetorik.txt


1. COGNITIVE STRATEGIES (information processing)
===================================================
Control HOW to process information.

1.1 Chunking
-----------------------
Break down complex information into smaller units.
  - divide big task into 5 steps
  - Divide text into sections
BACH: Task breakdown, workflow phases

1.2 Pattern recognition
-------------------
Recognize recurring structures.
  - similar errors in logs
  - recurring document types
BACH: Lessons-Learned Pattern Matching

1.3 Making analogies
-------------------
Understanding new things by comparing them with what is known.
  - "Mail routing is like network routing"
  - "Operators are like Lego blocks"

1.4 Hypothesis formation
---------------------
Formulate assumptions before testing.
  - "If the score is low, a mandatory field is probably missing"

1.5 Deductive thinking
---------------------
Infer from the general to the individual case.
  - "All invoices have invoice number -> this document
     has no -> probably no calculation"

1.6 Inductive thinking
---------------------
Deduce rules from individual cases.
  - "In 90% of cases the subject contains 'Invoice'
     a real bill"
BACH: Lessons-Learned Derivation

1.7 Causal Thinking
-------------------
Recognizing cause-effect relationships.
  - "Error increases -> CPU load increases -> probably bottleneck"

1.8 Change of perspective
---------------------
Look at the problem from a different perspective.
  - User perspective vs. developer perspective

1.9 Scenario thinking
------------------
Play through “what if” variants.
  - "What happens if API fails"
  - "What if classification is wrong"
BACH: Mode (2) Thinking

1.10 Prioritize
-----------------
Process important information first.
  - critical errors before warnings
  - Invoices before newsletters
BACH: Task priorities (P1 > P2 > P3)


2. METACOGNITIVE STRATEGIES (Thinking about thinking)
==================================================
Control HOW you control your own thinking.

2.1 Self-monitoring
-----------------------------------
Observe your own thinking.
  - "Do I really understand the problem"
  - "What assumptions am I making right now?"

2.2 Self-regulation
--------------------
Actively adapt the thought process.
  - Reduce speed
  - Change strategy (e.g. from hypothesis -> test)

2.3 Error analysis
-----------------
Identify your own thinking errors.
  - Confirmation error
  - hasty conclusions
BACH: Lessons-Learned (Bug Category)

2.4 Ask meta-questions
-----------------------
Questions about the thought process itself.
  - “What information am I missing?”
  - "Which operators do I need here?"

2.5 Choice of strategy
-----------------
Consciously decide which thinking strategy is right.
  - "Do I need pattern recognition or hypothesis formation?"

2.6 Reflection
-------------
Subsequent evaluation of the thought process.
  - "Why did this solution work"
  - “What would I do differently next time?”
BACH: Session summary, consolidation

2.7 Metamodeling
--------------------
Transfer the problem into a more abstract model.
  - "This is a classification problem"
  - "This is a routing problem"

2.8 Meta-Abstraction
--------------------
Reduce complexity by looking at the essence.
  - "It's actually only about three variables"

2.9 Meta-Comparisons
-------------------
Comparison between thinking strategies.
  - "Hypothesis formation was ineffective -> better data-driven"

2.10 Meta-Planning
-----------------
Planning how to think before you think.
BACH: Mode (2) Thinking = consciously provoking injectors


3. RELATED TO BACH MODES
=====================

Mode (1) Energy saving:
  - Pattern recognition (automatic)
  - Prioritize (get rules)
  - Deduction (quick conclusions)

Mode (2) Reflection:
  - Scenario thinking
  - Change of perspective
  - Formation of hypotheses
  - Ask meta questions
  - Choice of strategy

Mode (3) Consolidation:
  - Inductive thinking (deriving rules)
  - Reflection
  - Error analysis
  - Meta-Abstraction


4. RELATED TO RHETORIC
====================
Thinking strategies have direct rhetorical counterparts:

  Chunking -> Outlining, 3-point rule
  Pattern recognition -> topoi (argument patterns), story archetypes
  Making analogies -> metaphors, comparisons
  Formation of hypotheses -> prepare arguments, anticipate counterarguments
  Deduction/Induction-> Logical Reasoning
  Scenario thinking -> “What if” arguments
  Prioritize -> Core Message, Elevator Pitch

Rhetoric = Cognitive Strategy + Linguistic Packaging

See: --help rhetoric


RELATED HELP FILES
======================
--help operators Basic operators and patterns
  --help strategies Categorize, evaluate, test, etc.
  --help rhetoric Rhetorical operators and patterns
  --help metacognition Wiki entry on metacognition
