When Might Both Divergent And Convergent Thinking Be Used In Problem Solving?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Divergent thinking brings out the best outcomes when it is used

for open-ended problems that enable creativity

. Convergent thinking is ideally suited for situations where there exists one best correct answer and it is feasible to determine the answer by way of evaluation of available stored information.

Is divergent and convergent thinking related?

Thus,

divergent thinking is associated with creativity

. Convergent thinking involves finding only the single correct answer, conventional to a well-defined problem. Many facts or ideas are examined while convergent thinking for their logical validity or in which a set of rules is followed.

Can we use divergent and convergent thinking simultaneously?


Everybody is capable of both convergent and divergent thinking

, depending on the situation. However, it’s natural to lean more toward one or the other when approaching problems and projects.

Why are both convergent and divergent thinking important to creativity?

Thus, creativity requires both of these thinking processes, and creativity occurs when these two processes complement each other: divergent thinking to

generate many novel ideas

and convergent thinking to evaluate these ideas and select one of them to solve a particular problem.

What differentiates divergent from convergent thinking?

Divergent thinking is the process of creating many unique solutions in order to solve a problem. … Convergent thinking

relies heavily on logic and less on creativity

, while divergent thinking emphasizes creativity. Divergent thinking works best in problems that are open-ended and allow for creativity.

What are the 3 levels of thinking?

Three types distinguish them:

analysis, inference, and evaluation

.

How do you develop convergent thinking?

Convergent thinking occurs

when the solution to a problem can be deduced by applying established rules and logical reasoning

. This type of reasoning involves solving a problem within the context of known information and narrowing down the solution based on logical inference.

Why is convergent thinking important?

Convergent thinking emphasizes

speed, accuracy, and logic

and focuses on recognizing the familiar, reapplying techniques, and accumulating stored information. It is most effective in situations where an answer readily exists and simply needs to be either recalled or worked out through decision making strategies.

What is an example of divergent thinking?

Some other examples of divergent thinking include:

Wondering how many ways you can use a fork

.

Showing a person a photo and asking them to create a caption for the photo

.

Giving a child a stack of blocks

and asking them to see how many shapes they can create with those blocks.

What will happen when you apply divergent thinking on your convergent activities?

“Too

much divergent thinking can lead to endless ideation and no solutions

. Too much convergent thinking can lead to no new ideas and ‘analysis paralysis,’” adds Manning.

Who is a divergent person?

People who are divergent thinkers are

novel thinkers

. This means that they do not first think of the common assumptions most others use in making decisions. Because they think differently, they act differently.

What are the 4 levels of thinking?

  • 4 Levels of Thinking.
  • Level 1. Doing what feels good. …
  • Level 2. Doing what does not feel good. …
  • Level 3. Doing what feels good. …
  • Level 4. …
  • Examples:
  • Level 1- Eating organic food, recycling etc. …
  • Level 2- Learning a new skill, once you have mastered a new learning you are back in level 1.

What is higher thinking called?


High-order thinking skills

, also called high-order thinking or HOT, refer to skills that go beyond memorizing information or regurgitating stories—skills at the bottom of the Bloom’s Taxonomy hierarchy—and emphasize the development of analytical skills.

What is Bloom’s level of thinking?

There are six levels of cognitive learning according to the revised version of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Each level is conceptually different. The six levels are

remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating

.

What is convergent thinking with example?

Examples: Variety of tests,

such as multiple choice tests, standardized tests, quizzes, spelling tests and similar other tests

require convergent thinking, because only one answer can be 100% correct. A convergent thinker would only regard a person be either sick or healthy.

Is critical thinking a convergent process?

Convergent thinking (using logic). This type of thinking is also called critical, vertical, analytical, or linear thinking. It generally refers to

the ability to give the “correct” answer to standard questions that do not require significant creativity

. This includes most tasks in school and on standardized tests.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.