Thinking - Defined
• Process information – Stimuli – response
• Manipulation of information, form concepts, engage in problem solving,
reason and decision making.
• Mental activity involving the use of symbols, such as words or images.
• Observation, Inference, Confirmation
…..
….. manifests
manifests in
in aa behaviour
behaviour
…..
….. is
is reflected
reflected in
in an
an attitude
attitude
THINKING …..
….. aims
aims at
at the
the solution
solution of
of problems
problems
THINKING
….
…. involves
involves the
the manipulation
manipulation of
of mental
mental skills
skills
….
…. is
is aa mental
mental process
process requiring
requiring knowledge
knowledge
A General Definition of Thinking
Good thinker Vs. Bad thinker
Good Thinker Poor Thinker
Welcomes problematic situations Prefers situations which are more definite
Open to multiple possibilities Prefers limited possibilities
Uses evidence skilfully Ignore evidence
Make judgement only after considering all angles Quick to make judgement
Listens to other people’s views Ignore other people’s views
Reflective Impulsive
Perseveres in searching for information Gives up easily and is lazy to think further
Glatthorn and Baron (1985) and Nickerson (1987) developed a list of attributes of
good and poor thinkers
Processes In Thinking
• Imagery
• Language
• Concepts
Imagination
• The ability of forming mental images, sensations and
concepts, in a moment when they are not perceived
through sight, hearing or other senses.
• The work of the mind that helps create.
• Helps provide meaning to experience and
understanding to knowledge
• Fundamental facility through which people make
sense of the world
• Key role in the learning process
• Voluntary , involuntary
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
– Albert Einstein
Key Difference – Thinking vs Reasoning
Thinking and reasoning are two mental processes between
which a key difference can be discerned.
Thinking encapsulates a large arena of thought production that
can be either conscious or unconscious.
On the contrary, reasoning is limited to the conscious
production of mental thought with the use of logic.
As you can see from the very definitions
themselves, unlike reasoning, thinking
is not always logical, nor is it conscious
Types of thinking
• Convergent thinking
• Focus on single solution
• Info – problem solving – result – I solution
• Divergent thinking
• Generate multiple solutions to a problem
• Includes autistic thinking , convergent thinking
• After divergent thinking –ideas structures through
convergent thinking
• Vertical thinking
• Lateral thinking
CONVERGENT THINKING:
This is a predominant style of thinking in contemporary technological society.
locates a problem at the "center" of our focus and then gather peripheral resources down to the
problem,(resource converge on problem)
Most often a single best solution that is sought.
Convergent thinking is generally associated with math and science
An example of convergent thinking might involve
Taking a multiple choice test in which there is a single "correct" answer.
What could be the best materials for construction in a given climatic condition & function?
listing various climatic responsive materials. also suitable for the functional aspects.
Convergent Thinking Divergent Thinking
DIVERGENT THINKING:
Divergent thinking involves – stimulus(issue) as form of a problem, and locate this at the
center
Gathering information and branch off (diverge) in new perspectives providing
more possibilities & options.
Instead of a single correct answer, there may be a whole host of possibilities.
Divergent thinking is generally associated with the humanities and fine arts.
An example of using divergent thinking might involve
Taking an open-ended test that asks how many uses one can imagine
for various objects.
Application of mud in architecture –( out of many applications which is more appropriate)
Critical Thinking Creative Thinking
analytic generative
convergent divergent
vertical lateral
probability possibility
judgment suspended judgment
focused diffuse
objective subjective
answer an answer
left brain right brain
verbal visual
linear associative
reasoning richness, novelty
yes but yes and
Visual thinking
• Visual Imagery
• Perceptual Imagery
• Mental Imagery
– Clarity, Control
• Graphic Imagery
– To communicate to others, To ourselves
• “Visual thinking is transforming verbal
information into visual-graphic
representation”
“Words divide, pictures unite” (this is my
favorite one!)
“Visuals-drawings are international,
everybody understand them while words
change based on the different
languages…”
“Visual thinking helps to simplify”
