Final answer:
Having prior knowledge can impede problem-solving in situations with excessive information or unimportant decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Having some prior knowledge of a problem can sometimes impede the process of solving it. Two circumstances where this can occur are when there is too much information to sift through and when the decision to be made is unimportant.
In the first circumstance, having too much information can overwhelm and confuse the problem solver, making it difficult to identify the most relevant information. This can hinder the problem-solving process and lead to analysis paralysis.
In the second circumstance, if the decision to be made is unimportant, relying on prior knowledge may prevent considering alternate perspectives or innovative solutions. The problem solver may become complacent and stick to familiar approaches instead of exploring new possibilities.