Convergent vs Divergent Thinking (Definitions + Examples). From this perspective divergent thinking is a kind of problem solving. Divergent and convergent thinking aren’t opposites; they are partners in facilitating creative and critical thinking. More time may be required to investigate the divergent example. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Convergent thinking refers to the ability to put a number of different pieces from different perspectives of a topic together in some organized, logical manner to … And multitasking is not as effective as you may think. The next time you’re faced with a problem, try this batching technique. Convergent and divergent thinking are similar in that both thinking strategies are used to determine solutions to problems. The new hotel down the street? And voila! Give your team a break. Or at the new hotel that is opening down the street? “Creativity requires constant shifting, blender pulses of both divergent thinking and convergent thinking, to combine new information with old and forgotten ideas. Please subscribe to my channel: http://bit.ly/spencervideosImagine you have a problem you need to solve and you’re looking for innovative solutions. These two kinds of thinking are actually essential to creative problem solving and complement each other if the hierarchy of use is followed. Which three vehicles are the best replacements for his car? Required fields are marked. However, he wishes to expend less fuel in his travel for both monetary and conservation-associated reasons. However, it was only in the mid-20th century that there was actually technology available to make the dream a reality. The achievement of this remarkable feat called for the making of a lot of new technologies to design and manufacture the rockets, lunar modules, spacesuits and other necessary equipment. Intellectual ability – A sequence of standard intelligence tests was utilized to measure the divergent and convergent thinking capacities of adolescents. It usually happens in a free-flowing, spontaneous manner, where multiple creative ideas are engendered and evaluated. Would you have to worry about noise complaints? In addition, though it doesn’t look the case, convergent thinking also contributes to idea generation. Divergent thinking brings out the best outcomes when it is used for open-ended problems that enable creativity. Both types of thinking are important. Please use the. This was shown to be considerably dissimilar by a one-way ANOVA. But let’s approach this same problem with our “convergent thinking cap.” Disney World? Convergent thinking is a problem solving technique involving the bringing together different ideas from different participants or fields to determine a single best solution to a lucidly defined problem. It is the type of thinking that allows you to free-associate, to ‘go big’ and to discuss possible new ways to solve difficult challenges that have no single/right/known answer,” … No wonder the group became worn out so fast! Would you need a permit to hold the party outside? Let’s start by talking about divergent thinking. Convergent and divergent thinking are relatively new terms in the world of psychology. You’ll never come up with a solution if everything is immediately torn apart! Bringing facts and data together from various sources and then applying logic and knowledge to solve problems, achieve objectives or make decisions is known as convergent type thinking. However, he wishes to expend less fuel in his travel for both monetary and conservation-associated reasons. Idea Generation: Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking When it comes to problem solving and idea generation, two ways are commonly cited, namely divergent and convergent thinking strategies. Skyrocket your resume, interview performance, and salary negotiation skills. “Divergent thinking is the process of coming up with new ideas and possibilities—without judgment, without analysis, without discussion. You might find yourself coming up with a great solution without frustrations! A successful outcome of an idea generation session is to have a whole stack of break-through ideas to a particular business challenge or opportunity. Choosing what to wear in the morning is an exercise in divergent and convergent thinking. Just keep expanding the ideas of where you should hold the event, for a solid block of time. Convergent and divergent thinking require two different parts of the brain. But when you do come up with an “out of the box” solution that does fit into your constraints, you’ve got a great solution on your hands. However, it may also be the case in an absolute sense. However, owing to the fact that the focus of divergent thinking is ideas rather than process, any solution determined as a result of divergent thinking, frequently needs convergent thinking to convert it into a practicable to-do-list. Creative Ability – Creative ability was gauged in a study having both divergent and convergent tasks. Switching back and forth between the two may not seem like multitasking, but it is a form of multitasking. This process is more analytical and “realistic.” It uses logic to narrow down ideas. Convergent thinking: Mr. A’s home is at a distance of five miles from work. No personality characteristics were found to be associated with convergent thinking. However, they hold more in common than one might realize. It was only after receiving expert advice pertaining to the matter that the president made his famous speech where he promised to get a man transported to the moon and also ensure his safe return, by the close of the decade. You may decide to make the event Disney-themed, for example, to have a fun event without shelling out the costs of actually going to Florida. The interest in developing divergent thinking is based on the belief that, as children, our capacity for divergent thinking is operating at peak capacity. Nonetheless, no considerable difference was observed between subjects engaging in divergent thinking and convergent thinking. Marketing, Sales, Product, Finance, and more. It was on this day that the Russians launched Sputnik into space, thereby initiating the space race. Divergent thinking is employed when an individual is faced with an open-ended task (examples were given earlier—“How can a brick be used?”). Results show that two personality characteristics namely Extraversion and Openness were seen to make possible divergent thinking. Convergent thinking encourages students to come up with one distinct answer to a question based on the information given to them. 2) what is convergent thinking? However, it could still be possible to find an option that is entirely different from what the user asked – like devise a vehicle that runs off of air, or start a new business from home. In addition, the considerably divergent thinkers were revealed as having higher penetration and anxiety scores. Although they are completely different in terms of the basic meaning of the terms and how they work, the major purpose is the same. In an abundance of enthusiasm generated post-Sputnik 1, the convergent style of thinking was rapidly equated with typical intelligence. Convergent vs Divergent Thinking (Definitions + Examples). The second kind were insight problems, which provided the subjects with certain contextual facts and posed a question to them that called for shedding light on. The opposite of divergent thinking is convergent thinking. Switching back and forth between the two may not seem like multitasking, but it is a form of multitasking. The term “divergent thinking” refers to that strategy of solving problems characterized by the proposal of a multiplicity of possible solutions in an attempt to determine the one that works. This strategy is best suited for situations characterized by a readily available answer that just has to be worked out or recalled by way of decision-making strategies. Divergent thinking has been detected in people with personality characteristics such as these – curiosity, nonconformity, persistence and readiness to take risks. Your email address will not be published. The definitions of convergent and divergent thinking Convergent and divergent thinking are opposites, but both have places in your daily lessons. (Attitude) Imagine a big bang, an explosion of ideas. Sleep deprivation – A 1988 study by J.A. When starting a new venture, …. Then, hold a meeting that is focused solely on convergent thinking. Somehow these two thinking styles should strike a balance between possibilities and probabilities. Moving to everyday life, here’s an example of convergent and divergent thinking in practice. What about a big outdoor party with tents? We use them all the time in our daily lives! 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. Standardized tests are convergent; so is an IQ test. You can’t just set your heart on Disney World without considering practical factors, like budget or location. From this article, you’ll learn 1) what is divergent thinking? When you think about “brainstorming,” you are thinking about divergent thinking. Divergent and convergent thinking are two complementary methods to explore ideas, work towards goals, and address challenges. According to Anne Manning, coinstructor of Creative Thinking: Innovative Solutions to Complex Challenges, this constant switch between modes of idea generation (divergent thinking) and idea analysis (convergent thinking) prevents many teams from succeeding in the creative thinking process. Though launching something and finding out what the market for it is only after the launch doesn’t have to be a bullet-proof strategy (most cases it’s not), this seemed to be the case for Twitter. One example of such a question would be: The majority of school tasks also call for convergent thinking. This phase involves being open to generate ideas and possibilities. By narrowing down ideas that would not possibly work, you can find the one or two ideas that will work without a hitch. Get on promotion fasstrack and increase tour lifetime salary. To achieve this, researchers analyzed the electroencephalography (EEG) patterns of participants in the course of divergent and convergent thinking. Openness analyzes intellectual curiosity, artistic interest, originality, liberal attitudes, and imagination. E-mail is already registered on the site. When it comes to problem solving and idea generation, two ways are commonly cited, namely divergent and convergent thinking strategies. In the case of the divergent tasks, though taken as a group, all the tasks showed a connection, they were not significant when studied between conditions. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, Convergent vs Divergent Thinking (Definitions + Examples). Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking. The success of the Russians in technology came as a bolt to the United States. The credit for coining the term “convergent thinking” goes to Joy Paul Guilford. We actually need both convergent and divergent thinking. The amount of people that you expect to attend the event. Post your jobs & get access to millions of ambitious, well-educated talents that are going the extra mile. A structured search through millions of jobs. Flickr | Playing Futures: Applied Nomadology, How to Best Manage Your Time as Entrepreneur, Idea Generation: Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking. 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