Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving Essay example

Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving Critical thinking and creative problem solving working together can enhance a person’s creative skills. However, if there is not a correct balance between the two, a person may not find the correct resolution. To find the right balance between critical thinking and creative problem solving, one must understand the similarities and differences between the two. This paper will attempt to show those ideas. Critical Thinking According to Shah (2010) and the American Heritage Dictionary, critical thinking is defined as â€Å"The mental process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to†¦show more content†¦Similarities and Differences Prior to completing this paper, I thought that critical thinking and creative problem solving were very different. However, I find that they are very much alike. Critical thinking and creative problem solving follow very similar steps to reach a solution. Conceptualizing and preparing are the beginning phases at which time one realizes there is a problem. Stage two is the applying and analyzing or incubation stage. After success has been reached at this stage, the process proceeds to the synthesizing or illumination stage. This could also be considered the Aha stage where an idea comes to light. The last stage is the evaluation or verification to determine the success of the solution. One difference that should be discussed is that the creative process appears to be more open and looks for more than one resolution to a problem. An example of this is the story at the end of chapter nine. The question presented was â€Å"Show how it is possible to determine the height of a tall building with the aid of barometer† (Dacey amp; Lennon, 1998, p. 185). The professor expected an answer using physics logic, but the student was creative and thought outside the box. By doing this, there were many answers to the question. The critical thinking process is rigid and expects to find only one resolution. My Experiences One experience that comes to mind involving creative problem solving came in my tenure asShow MoreRelatedCom 420 - Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving Essay800 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction This paper will introduce critical thinking and creative problem solving with an emphasis on the latter. In doing so, it will attempt to describe any similarities and differences between the two. Critical thinking is the process of rationally analyzing and attempting to solve a problem accurately without guessing. The first step in critical thinking is to understand the problem thoroughly which will allow you to restate the problem in different ways to learn about it and other relatedRead MoreThe Importance Of Critical Thinking1060 Words   |  5 PagesCritical thinking is a prerequisite to rationality. This means that there must be a problem-solving mechanism that seeks to conclude on the expected outcomes. As such, critical thinking is tied around finding solutions to a problem. It is important to note that there is a bias towards the end result to determine whether critical thinking was employed. This makes sense because failing to find a solution to a problem cannot be classified as critical thinking. As Steven Johnson said in Where Good IdeasRead More Thinking and Decision Making Essay1480 Words   |  6 PagesThinking and Decision Making When it comes to the reasoning and problem solving of any issue there are various ways to come to a decision; thinking is the mental process that allows the people in the world to deal with it effectively, according to set goals, plans, ideas, and desires. Thinking involves the gathering of information that forms concepts and engages in problem solving, reasoning, and making precise decisions for the benefit of whom is concerned. Thinking according to Kirby andRead MoreCreative and Critical Thinking Essay1254 Words   |  6 PagesKnowledge is generated through critical and creative thinking. Creative thinking is something new or original that is created with value. Critical thinking is a type of thinking that questions assumptions and validates or invalidates a current belief or something that is said to be previously true. 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The Army Problem Solving Process consistRead MoreDifferences Between Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking And Focused Thinking791 Words   |  4 Pagesbetween Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking and Focused Thinking? o Creative thinking- Going beyond the limitations and being fresh in one’s ideas, while having a generative purpose. o Critical thinking- Is evaluative in nature and analyses a particular thing. Also, this has an analytical purpose. o Focused think- thinking critically and creatively 2. Summarize the advice and what you need to do in the Four -Part Model of Critical Thinking: †¢ Reasoning- Reasoning is the foundation of critical thinkingRead MoreEssay about Critical and Creative Thinking1108 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Critical and Creative Thinking COM/600 2013 Critical and Creative Thinking Critical thinking is an important and valuable skill to have. Critical thinking affects both your professional lifestyle as well as your personal lifestyle. Critical thinkers should encompass skills needed to thoroughly analyze all the variables in a problem. During critical thinking, decisions should be based upon logic, and relevant and accurate data. Problem-solving and decision making is part ofRead MoreCritical Thinking1715 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿KENYATTA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL: HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM DEPARTMENT: TOURISM UNIT CODE: UCU 103 UNIT TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING GROUP MEMBERS NAMES: REG.NO. CONTACTS SIGN GEOFFREY A.G T12S/8705/2013 0728812037 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. PETER WAMBUI T12S/19590/2013 0726581625 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. ROSE WACHIRA T12S/21534/2013 0717236599 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... NASSIUMA PURITY T12S/21394/2013 0702057789 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦... RADHI OLANG’O T12S/19632/2013 0704290026 †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ CHEMUTAI DAISY T12S/19632/2013 0702645207