Everywhere, much talked, discussed, debated and used word is “Thinking ” Yet, it is too challenging to comprehend. It is so, may be, because of its amorphous and abstract nature. You neither construct its single identity nor determine confirm structure. In short, multiple meaning and lack of definate structure make it so difficult to grasp. Through this piece of paper, I’m trying to simplify the basic thinking process for the sake of learning.
Thinking: meaning, steps, and examples
As I mentioned before that thinking has hardly definite definition. Tentatively speaking, it is not a chain but web of mental or cognitive activities. Observation, reasoning, understanding, analysis, evaluation, judgement, etc. are part of cognitive activities. All the components that I mentioned are closely interconnected and aimed to design an effective tool to solve problems.
In simple words, thinking is an intense series of cognitive activities of observation, data collection, analysis, evaluation, and formation of final decision. In this process, each step is closely interconnected with other.
Most importantly, there are multiple thinking processes exercised as per role and requirements to bring desired results. They are like: critical thinking, creative thinking, analytical thinking, lateral thinking, abstract thinking, reflective thinking, concrete thinking, divergent and convergent thinkings.
Example of day-to-day thinking
1.Locate the problem
2.Write problem question
3.Plan solution : collecting information
4.Evaluate solution: pros and cons
5.Decision making: select one solution
6.Evaluate outcome: success or failure
7.Rethink and redefine problem question
1.Problem question
Imagine that you are faced with a decision of where to go for holiday this vacation? What would you do next? Definitely, you will begin your thought process with a question like which location, destination, spot should I select?
2.Observation and data collection
Next, you will start gathering and collecting information, resources, and things to make decisions. For this you will either use your saving or try to borrow from your friends or elsewhere. Available resources will determine the fate of your destination. You will analyse everything in terms of benefits and drawbacks. Here, you will hardly dare to leave any option untouched.
3.Analysis and evaluation
Your mind will start thinking like how much money do I have? How much money should I manage? By which means of transportation should I choose? Should I go by train or plane? Do I book hotel in advance or not? Which accommodation is reasonable? Should I book taxi or go by public transport?
4.Making final decision
In this way you will start analysing and evaluating each and every option you have in terms of pros and cons. And finally, you make decision where to go? By which means to go? Where to stay? How many days do you stay there? What services you will hire? How much budget you have decided to spend and so on.
5.Execution of plan
Eventually you execute your plan and leave for your destination happily. This is an example of complete thinking process. It begins with a problem question, observation and data collection, data analysis and evaluation, and finally making decision and execute plan to solve question.
6.Outcome and rethinking process
The last step involves judging final outcome Whether it has created desired outcome or become short of expectations. In case, if it fails to deliver expected result, one needs to rethink whole process again right from problem question.
Generally speaking, it involves seven stages mental process. People may use various different ways and means to tackle each steps.
Needless to say that by recognizing thinking patterns in our daily lives, we can enhance our decision-making skills and become more mindful individuals. You know that every day presents countless opportunities to practice and refine our thinking processes.
Academic understanding of thinking
Thinking is a complex mental process that manipulate and analyze information, either collected through the senses from the environment, or stored in memory from past experiences as prior knowledge.
Such manipulation and analysis occur by means of series of stages like abstracting, reasoning, imagining, problem solving, judging and decision-making.
Types of thinking processes
In order to grasp basic thinking process, it is essential to have the insight of its aspects as well. These are also called cognitive approaches based on different applications. Each approach has distinct role and importance. Let’s see overview of different cognitive approaches.
1.Critical thinking
It is a kind of thinking by which person can question, analyze, evaluate, and judge whatever he observe, listen, experience, read. This approach focuses on objectively evaluation and judging information and argument. It emphasis on questioning assumptions and form judgement based on solid evidence. In short, critical thinking plays vital role in making unbiased, impartial well informed decisions.
2.Analytical thinking
This approach involves breaking down complex problem into smaller units and understand benefits and bottlenecks of each one in respect to whole. For example, if you want to go to a destination or location, you try to compare and contrast various means of transportations, rents, time, comfort, safety, availability, personal limitations etc. before making any decision.
Analytical thinking is an effective tool in making good decisions that lead to solve complex problems.
3.Creative thinking
When conventional means become inadequate to tackle problem, creative thinking cognitive approach comes in to play. As the name suggest, it goes beyond existing limit to generate possible solutions.
Advocators of this approach often rely on the brainstorming means to generate valuable inputs. It is important in dealing with complex and unconventional problems.
4.Reflective thinking
Unlike other approaches, reflective thinking emphasis on learning from past experience. It includes regularly writing self experiences, assessment and examination of these experiences. Further, making required changes and improvement in past experiences if necessary. And, finally, applying these learning from past experiences to new situation.
5.Conceptual thinking
A kind of thinking by which you form an image of abstract ideas by exploring patterns and connection between these ideas. It is like grasping a big picture in which various ideas are linked and you know how they are linked with one another and why they behave in a certain way. It helps in making future predictions and generalizations.
6.Convergent and divergent thinking
Both convergent and divergent thinking approaches are contrasting in nature. Convergent thinking focuses on narrowing down options to single one. Whereas, divergent thinking emphasis on generating multiple possibilities or alternatives to a single problem.
Convergent thinking relies on deductive reasoning to find out best single solution to problem. On the other hand, divergent thinking relies on inductive reasoning to find out multiple possible solutions to single problem. Apart from these different approaches, there are many more but least important compare to discussed in this paper.
Final words on basic thinking process,
So far, I have discussed in detail the meaning, steps, and types of thinking approaches or processes. I have also given real world examples to understand the thinking process practically. By studying these things, we can easily conclude that thinking is a versatile and multipurpose tool that help us to understand the world we live in. It helps us to make informed decisions, solve problems, communicate effectively and increase the degree of adaptability with our environment. Teaching and learning methods/Understanding psychology