problem solving
Working through difficulties
Problem solving is working through difficulties to reach a solution.
The term appears in educational and professional contexts to describe analytical thinking, creative approaches, and systematic methods for addressing challenges: The job requires strong problem-solving skills.
Often hyphenated when used as a modifier: problem-solving abilities.
Conclusion from premises
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
- proofDemonstration of truth
- inductionFormal admission process
validity · premise · hypothesis · conclusion · argumentation · syllogism · if-then · elimination
Generating many ideas freely
- ideationForming mental concepts
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
- inventivenessCapacity for original creation
divergent thinking · lateral thinking · resourcefulness · unconventional · experimentation · reframing · improvisation · workaround
Methodical study of parts
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- troubleshootingSystematic fault diagnosis
- critical thinkingObjective evaluation of information
investigation · evidence · data · metrics · research · assessment · methodology · root cause
New device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
iteration · pivot · design thinking · entrepreneurship · incubator · proof of concept · scaling · patent
deduction
Conclusion from premises
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
- inferenceConclusion reached through reasoning
- proofDemonstration of truth
induction · validity · premise · hypothesis · conclusion · argumentation · syllogism · if-then · elimination · sequencing
brainstorming
Generating many ideas freely
- ideationForming mental concepts
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
inventiveness · divergent thinking · lateral thinking · resourcefulness · unconventional · experimentation · reframing · improvisation · workaround · insight
analysis
Methodical study of parts
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- troubleshootingSystematic fault diagnosis
critical thinking · investigation · evidence · data · metrics · research · assessment · methodology · root cause · systematic
invention
New device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
prototype · iteration · pivot · design thinking · entrepreneurship · incubator · proof of concept · scaling · patent · first principles
- problem-solvingpuzzles, riddles, logic, answers, thinking
- teachingteaching, lesson plans, instructing, educating, courses
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, cognition, remembering
- life skillsreading, writing, cooking, cleaning, laundry
- Coping Strategiesavoidance, coping, stress management, denial, acceptance
- math funmath puzzles, number games, math games, logic puzzles, math challenges
problem solvinggiving up
Choosing to stop trying
surrender · capitulation · quitting · avoidance · denial
problem solvingbrainstorming
Generating many ideas freely
daydreaming · free association · ideation · blue-sky thinking · speculation
problem solvingtroublemaking
Deliberately causing discord
making things worse · sabotage · complicating · obstruction · exacerbating
problem, resolve, solve, solution, resolution, problems, solved, resolving, solving