Convergent stems from the word converge which means come together. Divergent and convergent thinking fablevision learning. This is somewhat similar to the creative problem solving approach. In this video, filipe takes you through what each of those entails and how to. Colzato ls, ozturk a and hommel b 2012 meditate to create. When it comes to problem solving and idea generation, two ways are commonly cited, namely divergent and convergent thinking strategies. This chapter presents the basics of divergent thinking, covering theoretical support and an overview of the different kinds of dt tests and the various scoring methods. The bigc project examined functional brain responses during tasks demanding divergent and convergent thinking in 35 bigc visual artists vis, 41 bigc scientists sci, and 31 individuals in a. Convergent thinking is the type of thinking that focuses on coming up with the single, wellestablished answer to a problem. The problem of convergent thinking is systematic and logical, unlike divergent thinking, which is spontaneous and freeflowing.
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. Convergent thinking looks for gradual emergence of a solution and proceeds on the assumption that the knowledge, ideas, principles and directions of thinking already known are to a large extent correct. Pdf the contributions of convergent thinking, divergent. While the former is to a larger extent concrete, the latter is more abstract.
Convergent thinking moderates the relationship between. In this video, manning demonstrates the concepts of divergent and convergent thinking to inspire new ways to approach problemsolving with your team. Convergent thinking involves giving direct and a specific correct answer to. Convergent thinking isnt seen as a strategy in the same way that satisficing is which is in response to a situation where no optimal solutions exist, more of a stage in the creative process, based on an ideationselection model. Convergent thinking is used as a tool in creative problemsolving. A study of convergent thinking and divergent thinking among secondary school students in relation to ethnicity, locale, types of institutions and sex lalit. The distinction between these two types of thinking was covered in his psychometric study of human intelligence. 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. Convergent and divergent teaching methods are from these ways of education. On the other hand, divergent thinking was equated with creativity and both were not uncommonly presented as.
In an abundance of enthusiasm generated postsputnik 1, the convergent style of thinking was rapidly equated with typical intelligence. How convergent and divergent thinking foster creativity. This means generating lots and lots of options before you evaluate them. To select the best of our divergent options, determine their potential value. Its a straight forward process that focuses on figuring out the most effective answer to a problem. Convergent thinking is linear and systematic while divergent thinking is weblike, focusing on the connections between ideas.
Well look at generating more ideas, how to critique and make improvements, and continue to practice our development of ideas. The term convergent thinking was coined by joy paul guilford in 1956. Design i worked on a variety of different problems and challenges and this basic approach is the common denominator throughout those projects. The deductive reasoning sherlock holmes used in solving mysteries is a good example of. We can use them in classrooms every day, but we often dont. The information and ideas obtained as a result of divergent thinking can be structured using convergent thinking to produce a single. Difference between divergent thinking and convergent thinking. Because divergent thinking considers problems from multiple perspectives and often discovers and develops original solutions, it plays a crucial role in most creative processes. Comparing the effects of convergent and divergent teaching. Divergent thinking involves artistry which is associated with the right brain while convergent thinking encompasses logical reasoning which employs the left brain. Divergent thinking divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. Both seem necessary to creative performance, although the degree of each varies. Highlightscreative cognition is classically regarded to involve a tradeoff of divergent flexible, and convergent persistent processes.
Very likely, divergent thinking and convergent thinking are actually two ends of a continuum eysenck 2003. Convergent thinking involves putting a number of different pieces of a topic together to find a single answer. Unlike convergent thinking, there is no single best correct answer in divergent thinking. 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. When an individual is using critical thinking to solve a problem they. Learn convergent thinking with free interactive flashcards. It generally means the ability to give the correct answer to standard questions that do not require significant creativity, for instance in most tasks in school and.
The challenge during divergent thinking is pushing through the initial blockers, blinders, and biases, and resisting the natural inclinations to turn. This may make the most sense, given we know about individual differences they tend to fall along continua, and it is. Pdf convergent and divergent thinking in verbal analogy. Convergent thinking is often used in accordance with divergent thinking. Divergent thinking involves the creation of a diversity of new ideas. Divergent thinking takes place in a freeflowing manner and is spontaneous, which results in multiple possible solutions in short amount of time.
The researchers in the present study have tried to find out a. Tests of dt are useful estimates of the potential for creative problem solving. Gene balinggan is a registered psychologist, licensed professional teacher, and a freelance academic and. The neurocognitive mechanisms of convergent and divergent thinking. Therefore, creative thinking seems to involve 2 components. On the other hand, people engaged in convergent thinking tasks were seen to be more pliant with respect to shortterm sleep loss. Each response is compared to the total amount of responses from all of the subjects. Other articles where convergent thinking is discussed. Joy paul guilford identified two types of thinking as convergent thinking and divergent thinking. Divergent thinking treats all ideas equally divergent thinking is often hard to measure divergent behavior in larger classrooms might cause disruption. Divergent and convergent thinking in this unit well look as some of the ways we can describe creativity and examine the concepts of divergent and convergent thinking. Convergent and divergent thinking in verbal analogy article pdf available in thinking and reasoning 214. This procedure is unorganized and yields unexpected connections. Divergent thinking is the process of thinking that explores multiple possible solutions in order to generate creative ideas.
In problem solving, you must master two ways of operating. Divergent and convergent thinking competendo tools for. Criteria are purposefully applied as we screen, select, evaluate, and refine the options, all the. Divergent thinking is the process of creating many unique solutions in order to solve a problem. Convergent thinking is part of a contrastive pair with divergent thinking. Convergent thinking is exactly opposite of what divergent thinking is. These two thinking modes are a dynamic duo we need them both, and. Creative thinking convergent and divergent thinking. Pdf free production of variability through unfettered divergent thinking holds out the seductive promise of effortless creativity, but runs the risk. Compare divergent or creative lateral thinking, characterized by unorthodox mental processes but often productive of a number of different and sometimes valuable solutions. Spend more time in divergent thinking and use a variety of ideation methods. The contributions of convergent thinking, divergent thinking, and schizotypy to solving insight and noninsight problems. It ensures that you define and understand the problem first, discuss it and look at it from different perspectives, and not blindly jump into building a solution.
Convergent thinking is the process of finding a single best solution to a problem that we are trying to solve williams, 2003. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. The process of figuring out a concrete solution to any problem is called convergent thinking. Runco, in handbook of organizational creativity, 2012. Divergent and convergent thinking systems innovation. 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. Convergent thinking and divergent thinking are both necessary for creativity but in different relative amounts, depending on the creative domain.
Convergent thinking is the opposite process whereby we start with a variety of previously generated ideas and try to filter, integrate, condense or select a subset of those as the. Exploring new and original ideas about a topic and drawing inspiration from the ideas or action of others leads to a colorful bouquet of opportunities that people need first for reasoning, and then for using these opportunities as. Divergent thinking an overview sciencedirect topics. Convergent thinking is described as the opposite of divergent thinking.
Differences between convergent and divergent thinking. The distinction between divergent and convergent thinking implies a dichotomy. Create a repeatable process you can use each time youre attempting to solve a new problem. Researchers have attempted to get at the answer to that questionreporting on average a small correlation between convergent thinking tests and divergent thinking tests. Convergent thinking definition of convergent thinking by. Convergent thinking versus divergent thinking youtube. At certain points in the creative process, thinking and focus needs to shift. Convergent thinking an overview sciencedirect topics. Divergent thinking dt plays a critical role in many creative efforts. Convergent thinking is a term proposed by guilford in 1967 as the opposite of divergent thinking. Runco, 2010, and to essentially equate creativity with the capacity for convergent and divergent thinking e. There are two distinct thinking modes divergent and convergent that help us to problem solve successfully and creatively.
Divergent thinking seeks understanding the problem from multiple perspectives and generating multiple solutions. In the convergent thinking process, choice is deliberate and conscious. Convergent and divergent thinking are similar in that both thinking strategies are used to determine solutions to problems. Convergent and divergent thinking the peak performance. The challenge during divergent thinking is pushing through the initial blockers, blinders, and biases, and resisting the natural inclinations to turn toward convergent thinking prematurely. Convergent and divergent thinking lia conferences what is thinking. Divergent and convergent thinking skills are both important aspects of intelligence, problem solving and critical thinking. Valid reasons why divergent thinking is often discouraged in classrooms. The secret to creating new ideas is to separate your divergent thinking from your convergent thinking. According to guilford, creative thinking involves more of divergent thinking. Convergent thinking is a term coined by joy paul guilford as the opposite of divergent thinking. Convergent thinking was named as intelligence and divergent thinking as creativity.
See more ideas about divergent thinking, convergent and divergent thinking, divergent. Divergent thinking is the process of generating multiple ideas to maximize the. Divergent thinking and the innovation funnel ideo u. 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. Aut divergent thinking in this task based on guilford, 1967, and translated into dutch and german, participants were asked to list as many possible uses for three common household items brick, shoe, and newspaper as they can within 10 min. Convergent thinking is often used in conjunction with divergent thinking. Such brainstorming techniques are used during divergent thinking. Choose from 71 different sets of convergent thinking flashcards on quizlet. It typically occurs in a spontaneous, freeflowing, nonlinear manner, such that many ideas are generated in an emergent cognitive fashion.
Pdf a study of convergent thinking and divergent thinking. While convergent thinking proceeds mainly along known and proximate principles of association, divergent thinking follows channels of remote association. 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. Mechanisms of divergent or convergent thinking are often studied in isolation, offering little chance for direct comparison. Divergent thinking convergent thinking science of science research teams research ecosystem. Divergent thinking is a longer process as compared to convergent thinking. Not just that but both strategies are directed at determining the best solutions. The process of divergent thinking is systematic and logical. The terms convergent thinking and divergent thinking were introduced by a psychologist j.
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