Problem solving level objectives promote critical thinking. Problem solving requires a four-step cognitive process. First, the problem's ambiguity forces students to search for familiar problem elements. Second, students determine the novel problem elements that make the problem different and thus more difficult from those seen in the past. Finally, students apply their solution strategy to solve the problem.
Problem solving objectives require all four steps.
Exercise solving objectives only require the final step where the solution strategy is obvious to the conscientious student. Mastering comprehension objectives is essential to problem solving. Benjamin Bloom and Lois Broder studied how students who had mastered knowledge versus comprehension level objectives solved difficult problems requiring critical thinking. Students who had only mastered knowledge level objectives were generally ineffective. They would try each procedure exactly as they had learned it.