People who have developed expertise in particular areas are, by definition,
able to think effectively about problems in those areas. Understanding
expertise is important because it provides insights into the nature of thinking
and problem solving. Research shows that it is not simply general abilities,
such as memory or intelligence, nor the use of general strategies that differentiate
experts from novices. Instead, experts have acquired extensive knowledge
that affects what they notice and how they organize, represent, and
interpret information in their environment. This, in turn, affects their abilities
to remember, reason, and solve problems.