Other articles where convergent theory is discussed. The psychology of creativity is an area of research under intensive study. Divergent thinking is an important aspect of creative thinking. Miniquiz question adam is a bright young man, who scored very high. Convergent thinking is exactly opposite of what divergent thinking is. Convergent thinking is a process whereby a person arrives at a single, correct answer. Pdf on jan 1, 2016, todd lubart and others published creativity. Convergent thinking is linear, but divergent thinking stimulates multiple thoughts, leading to multidirectional thinking. Creative thinking is the production of unusual and good responses to problems.
Perception in psychology 101 at allpsych online allpsych. Convergent thinking is a fundamental tool in a childs education. Divergent and convergent thinking skills are both important aspects of intelligence, problem solving and critical thinking. Convergent thinking questions often require the subject to resolve, explain, identify, or define. Divergent thinking definition of divergent thinking by. Research method this research phase consisted of 71 inperson intercepts in washington dc, san francisco, boston, and north carolina and 16 remote interviews, over the phone and via video. Examples of divergent thinking include using brainstorming, free writing and creative thinking at the. Divergent thinking medical definition merriamwebster.
Psychology of aesthetics, creativity, and the arts. Divergent thinking involves artistry which is associated with the right brain while convergent thinking encompasses logical reasoning which employs the left brain. Today, most educational opportunities are tied to ones performance on standardized tests that are often multiple choice in nature. I never thought to go to wikipedia to learn about what we do, but its always good to see what the crowd divergent thinking vs convergent thinking by phil 11 see more.
In the past few years, the technologies for the assessment and enhancement of divergent thinking have changed. When it comes to problem solving and idea generation, two ways are commonly cited, namely divergent and convergent thinking strategies. Analytical thinking that follows a set of rules, as in arithmetic, or in which the logical validity of the thought processes is checked and verified. Divergent thinking vs convergent thinking by phil brian recently pointed everyone in the office to the wikipedia article on design thinking. Define creativity, convergent thinking, divergent thinking and brainstorming identify and describe sternbergs three types of intelligence required for creativity to unlock this lesson you must be. Convergent thinking relates to combining or combining information geared towards problem solving. Threedimensional thinking prevents you from moving into the realm of convergent thought, a form of problemsolving thought. Rudn journal of psychology and pedagogics, 2016, 4, 7 15.
Gene balinggan is a registered psychologist, licensed professional teacher, and a freelance academic and. Convergent and divergent thinking writing prompt 1. Cognitive abilities like thinking, reasoning and problemsolving may be considered to be some of the chief characteristics which distinguish human beings from other species including the higher animals. Divergent thinking treats all ideas equally divergent thinking is often hard to measure divergent behavior in larger classrooms might cause disruption. Creative thinking and idea generation mindset in order to be in any profession you need a set of skills and techniques i. At certain points in the creative process, thinking and focus needs to shift. Jan 29, 2018 creative thinking convergent and divergent thinking 1. This involves also convergent thinking, and thus, both convergent and divergent thinking processes intertwine and cooperate to reach a viable solution of an illdefined problem in a process called. Pdf free production of variability through unfettered divergent thinking. The core steps of creative problem solvingdivergent and convergent thinking define a sequence of phases that are common to creativity and engineering.
Thinking is an important part of our human experience, and one that has captivated people for centuries. Nov 17, 2017 convergent vs divergent thinking, differences. Both seem necessary to creative performance, although the degree of each varies. The farther our eyes converge, the closer an object appears to be. Guilford considered divergent thinking to be a central component of creativity. Up to a point, then, developing students convergent thinkingas schoolwork often does by emphasizing mastery of contentfacilitates students divergent.
Binocular cues refer to those depth cues in which both eyes are needed to perceive. Problem solving technique in which ideas from different fields or participants are brought together synthesized to find a single optimum solution to a clearly defined problem. The relationship between creativity and critical thinking will depend on the different conceptualizations of the constructs and what aspects of each of the. Threedimensional thinking provides you with a format with which. Convergent thinking definition of convergent thinking at. Convergent is a form of the word converging and so it means coming together.
Cognition is the process by which one acquires knowledge through experience, thought and sensory input. Following divergent thinking, ideas and information are organized and structured using convergent thinking, which follows a particular set of logical steps to arrive at one solution, which in some cases is a correct solution. On the other hand, divergent thinking was equated with creativity and both were not uncommonly presented as. Pdf convergent and divergent thinking in verbal analogy. First the thesis proposes a definition of creativity based on cognitive research, human intuition and. Convergent thinking doesnt always involve seeking out new procedures to solve the problem. The mind is the idea while thinking processes of the brain involved in processing information such as when we form concepts, engage in problem solving, to reason and make decisions. Convergent thinking, or analytical thought, is quite the opposite. The concept of convergent thinking requires the design thinker to go through all the possible solutions thought during divergent thinking and come up with a correct solution. Its extremely critical for all cbse students to practice all assignments which will help them in gaining better marks in examinations. Convergent thinking is a term used to describe the process of finding a single best solution to a problem. Convergent thinking is what you engage in when you answer a multiple choice question. Define intelligence and list the different types of intelligences psychologists study.
Convergent thinking is the ability to apply rules to arrive at a single correct solution to a. Critical thinking, including definition and examples. Methods involved in convergent thinking also involve recognizing the previously tried out techniques and reapplying them along with the readily stored information. That something still eludes specific definition, but with a renewed apa emphasis on creativity from apa president robert j. Villalba, in reference module in neuroscience and biobehavioral psychology, 2017. Critical thinking is the process of using reasoning to discern what is true, and what is false, in the phrases and sound bytes we hear everyday. In this sense divergent thinking depends partly on its converse, convergent thinking, which is focused, logical reasoning about ideas and experiences that lead to specific answers. By comparison, the thinking skills used in critical. Contrary to what is sometimes assumed, both convergent and divergent thinking lead to. As you can infer, it emphasizes finding the single, optimal solution to a given problem and usually demands thinking at the first or second depth of knowledge dok level. Summarize the characteristics of a scientifically valid intelligence test. Divergent thinking is a longer process as compared to convergent thinking. Convergent thinking at the encyclopedia of psychology 1.
Divergent thinking is the process of thinking that explores multiple possible solutions in order to generate creative ideas. Convergent thinking definition psychology glossary. Convergent thinking is usually contrasted with divergent thinking, which is defined as searching for a variety of relevant solutions to problems that have many possible answers, such as when one is brainstorming for topics to write about for a poem. Convergent thinking medical definition merriamwebster. Apr 01, 2011 referential thinking is a common feature of schizophreniaspectrum conditions lenzenweger, et al. Divergent thinking is a concept proposed by american psychologist joy paul guilford in 1967, and refers to the process or ability to generate several novel ideas or solutions to a problem. The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to thought thinking. When a person uses this cognition to integrate various inputs to create an understanding, its called as cognitive thinking. Thinking that formulates new solutions to problems. Convergent thinking definition of convergent thinking by. The secret to creating new ideas is to separate your divergent thinking from your convergent thinking. Divergent thinking definition of divergent thinking by the. Convergent thinking and divergent thinking are the polar opposites of each other. Convergent and divergent thinking in verbal analogy article pdf available in thinking and reasoning 214.
The process of figuring out a concrete solution to any problem is called convergent thinking. Convergent thinking definition at, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. A cognitive process in which a person generates many unique, creative responses to a single question or problem. Convergent validity definition psychology glossary. This article gives an overview of recent findings and describes thought processes and neuropsychological structures that. When a student contemplates the possible answers available, they use convergent thinking to weigh alternatives within a construct. Critical thinking can be seen as part of the more general convergent thinking skills that involve the production of one correct answer. Thinking is manipulating information, as when we form concepts, engage in problem solving, reason and make decisions. Divergent thinking is the process of thinking that explores multiple possible solutions in order to generate creative ideas its a straight forward process that focuses on figuring out the most effective answer. Outline the biological and environmental determinants of intelligence. Finally, examples of new ways to measure convergent thinking for creativity are presented. Divergent thinking tests are often used, though of course they really just estimate the potential for creative thought.
A cognitive process a mode of critical thinking in which a person attempts to find a single, correct answer to a problem. Divergent thinking, on the other hand, is when a person. The term convergent thinking was coined by joy paul guilford in 1956. The convergent thinking aspect of the invented task wasunsurprisinglyrelated to the standard ravens format. Define convergent thinking by websters dictionary, wordnet lexical database, dictionary of computing, legal dictionary, medical dictionary, dream dictionary. How to teach convergent and divergent thinking prodigy. Two new books on empathy explore both its drivers and the reasons its on the decline. Buy this book on publishers site reprints and permissions. Cbse class 11 psychology thinking chapter wise assignments are being given by teachers to students to make them understand the chapter concepts. All formats available for pc, mac, ebook readers and other mobile devices. For example, in the above bank problem, the entities are account. In this sense, thinking is inclusive of imagining, recalling, solving problems, free association, daydreaming, concept formation, and a variety of other procedures.
Psychologists have long debated how to best conceptualize and measure intelligence sternberg, 2003. Creative thinking convergent and divergent thinking. Convergent thinking is a term coined by joy paul guilford as the opposite of divergent thinking. Bringing facts and data together from various sources and then applying logic and knowledge to solve problems, achieve objectives or to make informed decisions is known as thinking convergently. Apr 07, 20 psychology definition of critical thinking. Convergent thinking can be used in psychology and is founded on deductive and analytical thinking.
In the convergent thinking process, choice is deliberate and conscious. Jul 19, 2018 convergent thinking involves starting with pieces of information, converging around a solution. Thinking meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. A source book for creative thinking, new york, charles scribners. Divergent thinking, creativity, and giftedness mark a. Criteria are purposefully applied as we screen, select, evaluate, and refine the options, all the. How convergent and divergent thinking foster creativity. Valid reasons why divergent thinking is often discouraged in classrooms. Both have sought to explain why a group of people feel and act 1. Part of it involves being familiar with logic and logical fallacies those bits of false. Understanding convergent and divergent thinking can allow you to consciously use the appropriate thought process to get the best results. Thought also called thinking is the mental process in which beings form psychological associations and models of the world. Convergent thinking is a style of thought that attempts to consider all available information and arrive at the single best possible answer.
It enables you to reduce the possibility outcomes or solutions through the use of knowledge and logic. Convergent thinking is the exercise of processing multiple pieces of information to arrive at a single piece of information i. Developing novel and effective solutions to problemsin engineering and in generalinvolves moving through phases of synthesis and analysis, each of which has a unique set of. Convergent validity refers to the degree to which scores on a test correlate with or are related to scores on other tests that are designed to assess the same construct. Convergence refers to the fact that the closer an object, the more inward our eyes need to turn in order to focus. See more ideas about divergent thinking, convergent and divergent thinking, divergent. The creative process doesnt always take you directly to the best solution but, by encouraging a variety of possible solutions, new. In an abundance of enthusiasm generated postsputnik 1, the convergent style of thinking was rapidly equated with typical intelligence.
This definition of creative thinking is compatible with the definition of critical thinking being used in this article, differing only in that creative thinking requires the use of unusual strategies or skills. Most of the thinking called for in schools is convergent, as schools require students to gather and remember information and make logical decisions and answers accordingly. Creative thinking convergent and divergent thinking 1. Introduction to psychology michigan state university. This is opposite from divergent thinking in which a person generates many unique, creative responses to a single question or problem. Large selection and many more categories to choose from. Difference between divergent thinking and convergent thinking. But, in order to estimate the impact of design thinking on our field, we need to first determine how ux and design professionals define design thinking. Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. A cognitive process in which a person attempts to find a single, correct answer to a problem.
Convergent thinking an overview sciencedirect topics. In this thesis, two different thinking styles were considered as two different types of creativity. To select the best of our divergent options, determine their potential value. Other articles where convergent thinking is discussed. Such brainstorming techniques are used during divergent thinking. Creativity is, however, very difficult to define and measure. Divergent thinking is defined as producing a diverse assortment of. This means generating lots and lots of options before you evaluate them. Thinking along threedimensional lines guarantees what is known as divergent thinking. For example, if scores on a specific form a aggressiveness test are similar to peoples scores on other. Creative thinking an overview sciencedirect topics. The divergent thinking aspect, however, was not related to the standard version. Compare divergent or creative lateral thinking, characterized by unorthodox mental processes but often productive of a number of different and sometimes valuable solutions.