Cognitive Style

The way individuals think, perceive and remember information, or their preferred approach to using such information to solve problems.

Models and Measures

• Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
  • Introvert - Extravert
  • Sensing - Intuition
  • Thinking - Feeling
  • Judging - Perceiving
• Cognitive Style Analysis (CSA)
  • Wholistic - Analytic (W-A)
    How one organizes and structures information - deconstruct into components vs. global view
  • Verbal - Imagery (V-I)
    Information representation in memory during thinking - words vs. mental pictures
• Convergent vs. Divergent Thinkers
  
  • Rational and logical vs. creative, flexible and heuristic
• Learning Strategies
  • Holist
    Gather information randomly within a framework
  • Serialist
    Step by step problem solving, moving from known to unknown
• Left Brain / Right Brain Theory
  • Left Brain
    Logical and analytical operations
  • Right Brain
    Holistic, intuitive and pictorial operations
• Adaption - Innovation Theory
  • Adaptors
    Use what is given to solve problems, using time-honoured techniques
  • Innovators
    Look beyond what is given - transcend existing paradigms