Divergent Thinking

The goal of divergent thinking is to generate many different ideas to solve a problem in a short period of time. Divergent thinking typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing manner, such that the ideas are generated in a random, unorganized fashion.

Following divergent thinking, the ideas and information will be organized using convergent thinking; i.e., bringing (converging) the various ideas back together in some organized, structured way.

To begin thinking in a divergent manner you may use a variety of techniques;
1. Brainstorming: generating a list of ideas in a creative, unstructured manner. The goal of brainstorming is to generate as many ideas as possible in a short period of time. The key tool in brainstorm ing is "piggybacking," or using one idea to stimulate other ideas. During the brainstorming process, ALL ideas are recorded, and no idea is disregarded or criticized. After a long list of ideas is generated, one can go back and review the ideas to critique their value or merit.

2. Journaling: Journals are an effective way to record ideas that one thinks of spontaneously. By carrying a journal, one can create a collection of thoughts on various subjects that later become a source book of ideas. People often have insights at unusual times and places. By keeping a journal, one can capture these ideas and use them later when developing and organizing materials in the prewriting stage.

3. Freewriting: When free-writing, a person will focus on one particular topic and write non-stop about it for a short period of time. The idea is to write down whatever comes to mind about the topic, without stopping to proofread or revise the writing. This can help generate a variety of thoughts about a topic in a short period of time, which can later be restructured or organized following some pattern of arrangement.

4. Subject Mapping: involves putting ideas in the form of a visual map or picture that shows the relationships among these ideas. One starts with a central idea or topic, then draws branches off the main topic which represent different parts or aspects of the main topic. This creates a visual image or "map" of the topic which the writer can use to develop the topic further.

5. Mind Mapping: Mind mapping involves putting ideas or words in the form of a visual map or picture and freely associatingthese words/ideas so they will lead to relationships among these ideas in a very spontaneous manner.

6. Random Words: Choosing words that do not relate to the topic and responding spontaneously with another word and then creating connections that will lead to new solutions.

Use any of the techniques that work for you either in combination or independently. Both Random Words and Mind mapping help direct you in a different direction by creating lists of words that do not relate to the problem but will help you look at the problem differently. Developing ideas that are too creative(perhaps unuseable) is the best way to go. You can always pull your ideas back into reality. Learn to travel beyond what you are comfortable with.

J.P.Guilford states that thinking creatively requires two kinds of thinking
- divergent and convergent as well as the ability to evaluate information and drawing conclusions.

Divergent: requires fluency(the number of ideas produced) and flexibility(the number of new directions a problem can be viewed from) in thinking.
- to diverge from what we know - to think differently - to think in a lateral way.
- to produce many original ideas which forces different ways to think.

Convergent: requires logical thinking
- use known information(divergent information) to "converge" or bring together ideas to create a single solution.

In creativity, convergent thinking is only useful AFTER divergent thinking has been used to produce new ideas.

Divergent Thinking Abilities
Adapted and modified from the works of F. E. Williams

Creative production is often characterized by the divergent nature of human thought and action. Divergence is usually indicated by the ability to generate many, or more complex or complicated, ideas from one idea or from simple ideas or triggers. Traditionally the eight elements below are ones commonly thought of as inherent elements of creative production, as well as attributes associated with creative problem solving abilities.

Fluency - The ability to generate a number of ideas so that there is an increase of possible solutions or related products.

Flexibility - The ability to produce different categories or perceptions whereby there are a variety of different ideas about the same problem or thing.

Elaboration - The ability to add to, embellish, or build off of an idea or product.

Originality - The ability to create fresh, unique, unusual, totally new, or extremely different ideas or products

Complexity - The ability to conceptualize difficult, intricate, many layered or multifaceted ideas or products.

Risk-taking - The willingness to be courageous, adventuresome, daring -- trying new things or taking risks in order to stand apart.

Imagination - The ability to dream up, invent, or to see, to think, to conceptualize new ideas or products to be ingenious.

Curiosity - The trait of exhibiting probing behaviors, asking and posing questions, searching, being able to look deeper into ideas, and the wanting to know more about something.

http://www.uwsp.edu/education/lwilson/creativ/divergentthink.htm