In direct analogies, what is primarily utilized to solve problems in another field?

In direct analogies, facts or knowledge from one field are primarily utilized to solve problems in another field. This means that specific, established information or principles from a particular domain are applied to navigate challenges in a different context. By recognizing similarities and leveraging existing knowledge, individuals can draw parallels and create effective solutions that may not be immediately apparent otherwise.

For instance, if scientists studying climate change draw analogies from the way ecosystems interact in a forest to understand how similar principles might apply to urban environments, they rely on concrete data and facts gathered from those ecosystems to inform their strategies. This approach helps in transferring insights and enriching problem-solving tactics across different disciplines.

Other options, while they may play a role in problem-solving, do not specifically hinge on the transfer of factual information in the same way. Creative intuition, for example, involves spontaneous insight that may not be grounded in data, contrasting ideas focus on differences that may inhibit finding common solutions, and assumed solutions are often based on premises that might not hold true, rather than factual knowledge. These elements do not fundamentally capture the essence of how direct analogies function in problem-solving by relying on concrete knowledge.