Thinking Styles

Sternberg presents a theory of thinking styles that aims to explain why aptitude tests, school grades, and classroom performance often fail to identify real ability.

Thinking styles, defined as one’s preferred way of using abilities, have been considered as an important factor in explaining human performance. However, is it worthwhile to pay attention to thinking styles in addition to traditional constructs in individual differences, such as personality? Are there good styles or bad styles? Can thinking style be cultivated? Which thinking styles should we aim to cultivate? And how to cultivate these styles? This book answers these questions and more by addressing three major controversial issues in the field of styles: namely, whether thinking styles are distinct from, or are part of, personality traits; whether or not thinking styles can be changed; and whether or not thinking styles are value-laden. Based on a comprehensive review of previous literature and the analyses of results from a mixed-method, longitudinal study, the book provides solid and intriguing research evidence to the discussion of the above issues. Both academics and graduate students who wish to do research in the field of styles will find the book useful for its insights into the nature of thinking styles.

This volume presents the most comprehensive, balanced, and up-to-date coverage of theory and research on cognitive, thinking, and learning styles, in a way that: * represents diverse theoretical perspectives; * includes solid empirical evidence testing the validity of these perspectives; and * shows the application of these perspectives to school situations, as well as situations involving other kinds of organizations. International representation is emphasized, with chapters from almost every major leader in the field of styles. Each chapter author has contributed serious theory and/or published empirical data--work that is primarily commercial or that implements the theories of others. The book's central premise is that cognitive, learning, and thinking styles are not abilities but rather preferences in the use of abilities. Traditionally, many psychologists and educators have believed that people's successes and failures are attributable mainly to individual differences in abilities. However, for the past few decades research on the roles of thinking, learning, and cognitive styles in performance within both academic and nonacademic settings has indicated that they account for individual differences in performance that go well beyond abilities. New theories better differentiate styles from abilities and make more contact with other psychological literatures; recent research, in many cases, is more careful and conclusive than are some of the older studies. Cognitive, learning, and thinking styles are of interest to educators because they predict academic performance in ways that go beyond abilities, and because taking styles into account can help teachers to improve both instruction and assessment and to show sensitivity to cultural and individual diversity among learners. They are also of interest in business, where instruments to assess styles are valuable in selecting and placing personnel. The state-of-the-art research and theory in this volume will be of particular interest to scholars and graduate students in cognitive and educational psychology, managers, and others concerned with intellectual styles as applied in educational, industrial, and corporate settings.

Are you a pragmatist? An idealist? An analyst? What about the people you live with and work with? Complete with quizzes and self-tests, this book was written by researchers of human behavior and classifies thinking into five practical categories. But more importantly, it investigates the best strategies for approaching different situations and people, leading to the achievement of goals and the avoidance of errors -- the recipe for an enhanced life. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

"This book explores a specific set of intelligence theories, unifying and quantifying to create a verifiable model of various inferencing habits"--Provided by publisher.

This book provides an up-to-date, panoramic picture of the field of intellectual styles through describing, analyzing, and integrating the major theoretical and research works on the topic. Readers will gain a broad understanding of the field--its nature, origins, historical development, theories, research, and applications, as well as the interrelationships among major theoretical constructs proposed by different theorists in the past few decades. In particular, three major controversial issues in the field are addressed by both empirical findings and literature review: styles as better versus worse or as equal in merit; styles as traits versus styles as states; and styles as different constructs versus styles as similar constructs with different style labels. Educators will find ideas on how to improve their teaching and assessment of student performance. Student development specialists will be interested in the book because intellectual styles, as evidenced by recent studies, play a critical role in many aspects of student development including cognitive, affective, psychosocial, and career development. Psychologists will gain an understanding of an important facet of the field at the interface between cognition and personality. Managers in business will find the book relevant to such issues as effective supervision and staff training and development. The Nature of Intellectual Styles is intended for anyone--particularly researchers and students in the fields of education, psychology, and business management--who is interested in understanding intellectual styles and their effects on daily life.

What we witness today in the diversity of organizations, businesses, and companies, coupled with the expansion of their activities, aligns with the tremendous and rapid industrial and technological revolution. Especially regarding communication, rapid updates, and the shift towards digital business management. This casts a daunting shadow upon those unable to keep pace with this astonishing progress. This must compel everyone to break free from the shackles of confusion and the constraints of incapacity. Working on bridging the growing knowledge gap is essential. This imperative should drive all organizations, businesses, and companies towards embracing Information and Knowledge Technology widely, entering the era of the knowledge economy. This transition involves establishing specialized units for information and knowledge management, operating around the clock to keep up with consecutive developments that impact the business trajectory. The undeniable truths before us today show that strategic management and strategic thinking have become the topics of paramount interest in the business landscape. This heightened attention is because of the intense competition in markets, the scarcity of resources, and the rapid emergence of local and international changes. These factors cause a discerning management capable of making decisions that align with events or changes affecting organizations, businesses, and companies. We found ourselves today in dire need of exceptional talents who shape events, craft sustainable strategies, set achievable goals, and manage challenging situations with their advanced tools. All of this can only come through a shift in our perspective; moving away from the confines of routine thinking to embrace the vast realm of innovation. Thinking outside the box is required from everyone today. It is the foundation and effective solution for all management problems in its broadest sense. We frequently heard this term, prompting some to question its meaning. But it refers to stepping out of the confines of the issue or problem one is facing. It involves ceasing the repetitive attempts at solving it and confronting the situation as if it did not attach one to it. Just like a person cannot evaluate the exterior paint of a building while being inside, in this scenario, vision is inherently limited.

“Charming and erudite," from the author of Rationality and Enlightenment Now, "The wit and insight and clarity he brings . . . is what makes this book such a gem.” —Time.com Why is so much writing so bad, and how can we make it better? Is the English language being corrupted by texting and social media? Do the kids today even care about good writing—and why should we care? From the author of The Better Angels of Our Nature and Enlightenment Now. In this entertaining and eminently practical book, the cognitive scientist, dictionary consultant, and New York Times–bestselling author Steven Pinker rethinks the usage guide for the twenty-first century. Using examples of great and gruesome modern prose while avoiding the scolding tone and Spartan tastes of the classic manuals, he shows how the art of writing can be a form of pleasurable mastery and a fascinating intellectual topic in its own right. The Sense of Style is for writers of all kinds, and for readers who are interested in letters and literature and are curious about the ways in which the sciences of mind can illuminate how language works at its best.

This book presents a panoramic, current picture of the field of intellectual styles through portraying, analyzing, and integrating major theoretical and research works on the topics. The audience is researchers and students in the fields of education, ps

In this groundbreaking handbook, more than 60 internationally respected authorities explore the interface between intelligence and personality by bringing together a wide range of potential integrative links drawn from theory, research, measurements, and applications.