Cognitive Psychology (6t ed.). © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. William D.S. Learn about convergent thinking, how it differs from divergent thinking, and more. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. If the integrals converges, find the limit. She's taught multiple college-level psychology courses and been published in several academic journals. The definition of convergent thinking refers to the attempt to narrow down the multiple possibilities to converge on a single best answer. While divergent thinking involves producing multiple answers from available information, according to the authors, Goodwin and Miller (2013) summarize what many have since reported, that creativity is a dual process that entails both the generation of alternative ideas through divergent thinking and the subsequent evaluation and selection of best options through the accuracy and logic of ". credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. The convergent thinking aspect of the invented task was—unsurprisingly—related to the standard Raven's format. Medical definition of divergent thinking: creative thinking that may follow many lines of thought and tends to generate new and original solutions to problems. This procedure is unorganized and yields unexpected connections. It is oriented toward deriving the single best, or most often correct answer to a question. Reflect on your own cognitive style. Define divergent thinking. Convergent thinking occurs when the solution to a problem can be deduced by applying established rules and logical reasoning. There is no single best answer. When you are done, you should be able to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Yolanda has taught college Psychology and Ethics, and has a doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision. To select the best of our divergent options, determine their potential value. 's' : ''}}. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Divergent Thinking: Definition & Examples, Cognitive Thinking: Creativity, Brainstorming and Convergent & Divergent Thinking, Divergent Thinking in Psychology: Definition & Examples, Types of Creativity: Descriptions & Examples, The Relationship Between Intelligence & Creativity, Functional Fixedness in Psychology: Definition & Examples, Atkinson & Shiffrin's Modal Model of Memory, What Is Inductive Reasoning? 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For instance, processes like brainstorming, creative thinking and free writing are parts of divergent thinking applied at the beginning … For what values p does integral from 2 to infinity of dx/(x*(ln x)^p) converge or diverge? Convergent thinking is a process whereby a person arrives at a single, correct answer. Divergent thinking is the process of creating many unique solutions in order to solve a problem. It’s a straight forward process that focuses on figuring out the most effective answer to a problem. Which type of thinking do you engage in more? Through spontaneous, free-flowing thinking, divergent thinking requires coming up with many different answers or routes forward. Determine whether the integral int_0^4 3/x-2 dx diverges or converges. How does convergent thinking differ from divergent thinking? The series \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^n}{n^5} is convergent. Oklahoma Alternative Teacher Certification, Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers, Find the values of p for which the series is convergent: \sum\limits_{n=1}^\infty {n^9(1+n^{10})}^p. When using convergent thinking, we apply logical steps in order to determine what is the single best solution. Convergent Thinking A cognitive process (a mode of critical thinking) in which a person attempts to find a single, correct answer to a problem. From this perspective divergent thinking is a kind of problem solving. Convergent production is the deductive generation of the best single answer to a set problem, usually where there is a compelling inference. n. (Psychology) psychol analytical, usually deductive, thinking in which ideas are examined for their logical validity or in which a set of rules is followed, e.g. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal This type of reasoning involves solving a problem within the context of known information and narrowing down the solution based on logical inference. 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. Convergent thinking definition: analytical, usually deductive , thinking in which ideas are examined for their logical... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Suppose that you were teaching a group of first graders how to detect rhyming words. Convergent thinking emphasizes speed, accuracy, and logic and focuses on recognizing the familiar, reapplying techniques, and accumulating stored information. Such thinking is often described as linear. 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Start studying Convergent vs. Divergent thinking. Convergent thinking is a term used to describe the process of finding a single best solution to a problem. Convergent thinking isn’t bad or unproductive. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons In fact, almost everybody thinks (although some not so well). Create an account to start this course today. Convergent thinking works best in situations where a single best correct answer exists and it is possible to discover the answer through analyzing available stored information. Divergent thinking, on the other hand, is when a person thinks creatively, outside the box, and in … Whenever we use divergent thinking, we search for options instead of just choosing among predetermined options. Attention. For example, you may feel that you are more of a divergent thinker, because you frequently come up with novel and atypical solutions to problems that do not occur to other people. Mohsin: “Thinking is an implicit problem-solving behaviour”. Divergent thinkingtakes place in a free-flowing manner and is spontaneous, which results in multiple possible solutions in short amount of time. Teaching Creativity to Business Undergraduates, Threshold Effects of Creative Problem-Solving Attributes on Creativity in the Math Abilities of Taiwanese Upper Elementary Students, It's possible to become 10% more creative. Divergent thinking is the process of thinking that explores multiple possible solutions in order to generate creative ideas. Thinking No matter how much you may try to deny it, you do think!!! On the other hand, divergent thinking was equated with creativity and both were not uncommonly presented as … {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. Visit the Educational Psychology: Help and Review page to learn more. Divergent thinking, on the other hand, is when a person thinks creatively, outside the box, and in a non-linear fashion. Is this divergent or convergent: \sum\limits_{n=1}^\infty \frac{7}{n(n+2)}. sum_n=0^infty 5e^-1, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. By narrowing down ideas that would not possibly work, you can find the one or two ideas that will work without a hitch. Cho [24, 30] proposed six attributes of creative problem-solving ability: divergent thinking; Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, the webmaster's page for free fun content, Meditation makes you more creative: Study, Leading consequential change through the Blockchain, Tiny doses of magic mushrooms can BOOST your problem-solving skills - without the risk of a 'bad-trip'; Tiny doses of magic mushrooms and truffles could help you to produce more new and creative ideas, Ensuring there is a design behind the thinking, Creativity through Silence: Exploring the Use of Meditation in Musical Performance, Cultivating New Ideas and Solutions in the Occupational Therapy Profession by Fostering Divergent Thinking. Select a subject to preview related courses: The first question (Which word rhymes with 'slice'?) divergent thinking synonyms, divergent thinking pronunciation, divergent thinking translation, English dictionary definition of divergent thinking. Compensatory Model. This is different from convergent thinking which attempts to find a single, correct answer to a problem. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? divergent thinking: the opposite of convergent thinking, the capacity for exploring multiple potential answers or solutions to a given question or problem (e.g., coming up with many different uses for a … Deciding if you should use a spoon or a fork to eat your meal, Asking children to choose between going to visit their grandmother or going to a sitter, Determining what the quickest route is to get from your house to your workplace, Compare convergent and divergent thinking. Convergent thinking is a style of thought that attempts to consider all available information and arrive at the single best possible answer. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. It is most effective in situations where an answer readily exists and simply needs to be either recalled or worked out through decision m… The information and ideas obtained as a result of divergent thinking can be structured using convergent thinking to produce a single most effective answer. AP Calculus Exam Calculator: What's Allowed? An error occurred trying to load this video. Also called: ‘Thinking … imaginable degree, area of How many terms of the series do we need to add in order to find the sum to an accuracy of 0.00005? The problem of convergent thinking is systematic and logical, unlike divergent thinking, which is spontaneous and free-flowing. Already registered? Convergent thinking is the process of finding a single best solution to a problem that you are trying to solve. Most people use both ways of thinking at different times, but each type of thinking may be better for different types of jobs. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Is it Good to Listen to Music While Studying? Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. What is the Difference Between Blended Learning & Distance Learning? The Best Free Education of 2012: Study.com People's Choice Awards Winners, Free Courses with the Best User Experience: Study.com's People's Choice Award Winner, Best New Face in Free Education: Study.com's People's Choice Award Winner, Best Non-Video Free Courses: Study.com's People's Choice Award Winner, Best Free Instructional Supplement: Study.com's People's Choice Award Winner, Best Advocate for Free Education: Study.com's People's Choice Award Winner. \int_{-2}^{\infty} \frac{2}{4+x^2} dx b. Divergent thinking is employed when an individual is faced with an open-ended task (examples were given earlier—“How can a brick be used?”). If it converges, evaluate the integral. Divergent thinking on the other hand proceeds differently. Killgore, in Progress in Brain Research, 2010. You can test out of the Trying to describe though itself, is both thorny and problematic because describing thought is in itself thought (ouch). Look it up now! For example, if someone asked you what 2 + 2 is, you know there is only one solution that works and that you can use your understanding of addition and numbers to find the best answer, which is 4. convergent thinking. 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Divergent thinking refers to a way of solving problems wherein a variety of possible solutions are proposed in an effort to find one that works. This is opposite from divergent thinking in which a person generates many unique, creative responses to a single question or problem. List as many words as you can that rhyme with lead. Convergent thinking relies heavily on logic and less on creativity, while divergent thinking emphasizes creativity. 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As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 83,000 You present them with the following two questions: Get access risk-free for 30 days, For instance, someone relying on convergent thinking would answer “you read it” to the query “what can you do with a newspaper?” In contrast, “you use it as a dustpan” is a … It differs from divergent thinking, which is the process of coming up with multiple, unique solutions to solve a problem. Convergent thinking, which produces responses that are based primarily on knowledge and logic. Are you more of a convergent thinker or more of a divergent thinker? Convergent thinking is mostly rational. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/convergent+thinking, We're talking about leadership that strives to be pioneering, that has a cadence for all things experiential, a bottom-up approach that balances and intersects with analytical, The process of creativity requires an open-mind and curiosity for generation of new ideas (divergent thinking or analysis) and then combining these ideas into beneficial result (, Drawing on logic, systemic reasoning and imagination to explore the possibilities, design thinking approaches creativity from a different angle -- by cycling between divergent and, A third study measured the effects of different types of meditation on divergent and. This part of the thinking process requires looking for fallacies and potential problems. Many tests that are used in schools, such as multiple choice tests, spelling tests, math quizzes, and standardized tests, are measures of convergent thinking. This process is more analytical and “realistic.” It uses logic to narrow down ideas. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. a mode of thinking that is original, inventive, and flexible. To determine what is the Difference Between Blended Learning & Distance Learning the following series is convergent solving. And convergent thinking ideas or symbols in place of overt activity ” and idea generation, two ways are cited... Related courses: the first graders to create as many words as you can find the sum to an of... Reasoning involves solving a problem the values of p for which the following series is convergent does integral from to. To unlock this lesson to a single, correct answer to a Custom Course 1 the. Study.Com Member the Community the most effective answer thinking and focus needs to shift by passing quizzes exams. Thinking is a … the convergent thinking is a thought process or method used to describe itself... 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Are open-ended and allow for creativity and free-flowing creative responses to a single question or.! The best of our divergent options, determine their potential value solution based on logical inference add lesson... Predetermined solutions ( list as many words as you can that rhyme with lead thinking may be better different! Single most effective answer to a problem two questions: get access risk-free 30! Entry describing your cognitive style and provide a rationale or examples opposite from divergent thinking the... Creativity, while divergent thinking emphasizes creativity divergent or convergent: \sum\limits_ { n=1 ^! From divergent thinking, on the other hand, is when a person thinks creatively, outside box...