Chapter 7: Creative and Critical Thinking in the Small Group

Creative Thinking

Involves the ability to acquire knowledge, break it down, and rearrange it in an altogether different manner to generate something new and valuable

Brainstorming

A procedure designed to tap members’ creativity by asking them to generate as many ideas as possible without evaluation

Synectics

A procedure designed to stimulate creative thinking by using metaphors and looking for similarities in different things

Appreciative Inquiry

A technique that focuses on an organization’s or situation’s strengths and seeks to build on those strengths

Evidence

Facts, data, opinions, and other information that back a claim or conclusion

Arguments

Claims supported by evidence and reasoning

Critical Thinking

Occurs when a problem is analyzed thoroughly, using as much relevant information as possible

Open-Minded

Willing to consider new information and ideas, even if they contradict previous beliefs

Probing Questions

Questions designed to help critical thinking by examining information and reasoning in more depth

Fact

Something that can be verified by observation and is not arguable

Opinions

Inferences that go beyond facts and contain some degree of probability

Ambigiuous

Refers to a term that has more than one possible meaning

Fallacies

Mistakes in reasoning and faulty reasoning

Overgeneralization

A conclusion not supported by enough data

Either-Or Thinking

Asking members to choose between only two options, as if no other choices existed

Analogies

Comparisons that help clarify ideas and issues

Devil’s Advocate

A group member who formally is expected to challenge ideas to foster critical thinking

Group Climate

The atmosphere or environment within a group; consists of openness, trust, and satisfaction

Electronic Databases

Provide a very efficient way to find printed information; contain titles, abstracts, and often the full text of magazine and journal articles, newspaper articles, and books on thousands of topics

Discussion Rules

Group guidelines that help everyone share ideas and work together fairly