This study was undertaken to explore the problem solving processes of secondary-school students. Geometry students were given an experimenter-constructed test of convergent and divergent thinking and classified as high on both, high convergent, high divergent, or low on both. Of these 105 students, 49 were selected for individual observation as…

SYNCON is a tool to examine future options; it is a process that begins with small groups, merges to larger composite groups, and finally one total group so that all members of a group can contribute towards the solution of a complex problem. (Author)

Creativity, intelligence, and problem-solving tasks that varied in the explicitness of problem definition and in the format for an acceptable solution were administered to 100 college students. Two hypotheses that distinguished between concepts of creative and intelligent problem-solving were presented, and syntactical and strategic distinctions…

This book provides a collection of brief biographical sketches with accompanying problems for students to learn the Creative-Problem-Solving (CPS) process. Selected profiles include man as the following: painter, writer, musician, composer, sculptor, actor, dancer, architect, photographer, and designer. In order for students to effectively use…

An analysis of the problem solving process reveals at least three options: (1) finding the cause, (2) solving the problem, and (3) anticipating potential problems. These methods may be illustrated by examining "Oedipus Tyrannus," a play in which a king attempts to deal with a problem that appears to be beyond his ability to solve, and…

Presents a problem-solving model comprised of nine generalizations derived from the methods and principles which guided the investigations of the fictional London detective, Sherlock Holmes. (EM)

In a study of tests on diagnosis it was found that confidence measures of knowledge adjusted for reasoning were more reliable than conventional measures of knowledge, supporting the idea that knowledge enhances the ability to recognize the diagnostic entities, and realism is associated with fewer premature closures. (MSE)

The article provides practical information and techniques for effectively using creative problem-solving. Six stages of problem solving, with both convergent and divergent thinking phases, are discussed. Also discussed are equipment, time frames, and environmental requirements for creative problem-solving sessions. Sample exercises are offered.…

Performance on standardized figural analogy tests is considered highly predictive of academic success. While information-processing models of analogy solution attribute performance differences to quantitative differences in processing parameters, the problem-solving literature suggests that qualitative differences in problem representation and…

The teaching of decision-making, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking skills is necessary to ensure adaptability to our world of accelerated change. Living skills in the technology and information age will include the understanding and application of higher level thinking skills, which will be the educational "basics" of tomorrow.…

Part of the Small Town Strategy series, this publication presents some of the more common techniques for identifying problems and setting objectives. A problem-solving process which can be used in many different situtations is presented. The process includes the following sequence: problem statement, goal statement; objectives, strategies,…

This report, the first of a series of three, describes a study of the structure and use of language in a defined type of communication situation. Following a review of psychological, sociological, and linguistic studies dealing with the structure of communication or the structure of discourse, a type of goal-directed (convergent) communication is…

Presents findings of a study of scientists on the Wason four-card selection task, finding little understanding of the effect of disconfirmatory data in assessing conditionals. Found performance influenced by problem content. Explains performance as memory-cueing plus reasoning-by-analogy. (JM)

This article suggests that acceleration and enrichment programing for gifted and talented students have differing approaches to problem solving (well-structured problems in acceleration and ill-structured problems in enrichment). To prevent learning mutually exclusive problem-solving strategies, an integrated approach is advocated. (DB)

Three studies examined the relationship between specific forms of preschoolers' social and pretend play and divergent/convergent problem solving. Naturalistic and experimental designs were used to provide clearer account of relationship and to challenge assumption of single direction of influence. Results support complex reciprocal causality model…