An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking: Complementary Metacognitive Processes or Strange Bedfellows?

Though both critical thinking and creative thinking are often cited and promoted as important cognitive processes in personal, academic and professional settings, common misconceptualisation of both often leads to confusion for non-experts; for example, with respect to lumping them together erroneou...

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Main Authors: Christopher P. Dwyer, Deaglán Campbell, Niall Seery
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Intelligence
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/13/2/23
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author Christopher P. Dwyer
Deaglán Campbell
Niall Seery
author_facet Christopher P. Dwyer
Deaglán Campbell
Niall Seery
author_sort Christopher P. Dwyer
collection DOAJ
description Though both critical thinking and creative thinking are often cited and promoted as important cognitive processes in personal, academic and professional settings, common misconceptualisation of both often leads to confusion for non-experts; for example, with respect to lumping them together erroneously as much the same thing, completely confusing them for one another or, on the other hand, distinguishing them to such an extent that all genuine overlap is ignored. Given the importance of these processes in real-world scenarios, quality education and ‘metaeducation’ is necessary to ensure their appropriate translation to students and educators, alike. Thus, the aim of the current review is to discuss various perspectives on both critical and creative thinking with particular focus paid to addressing such common misconceptualisation. Detailed discussion is provided with respect to important ways in which they are distinct and overlap. Recommendations for what contexts application of each are appropriate are also provided. Furthermore, implications for such enhanced understanding are discussed, in light of both theory and research.
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spelling doaj-art-cc2f8bb04bde48c6a22823e58238da5a2025-08-20T03:12:22ZengMDPI AGJournal of Intelligence2079-32002025-02-011322310.3390/jintelligence13020023An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking: Complementary Metacognitive Processes or Strange Bedfellows?Christopher P. Dwyer0Deaglán Campbell1Niall Seery2Technology Education Research Group (TERG), Department of Technology Education, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, N37 HD68 Westmeath, IrelandTechnology Education Research Group (TERG), Department of Technology Education, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, N37 HD68 Westmeath, IrelandTechnology Education Research Group (TERG), Department of Technology Education, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, N37 HD68 Westmeath, IrelandThough both critical thinking and creative thinking are often cited and promoted as important cognitive processes in personal, academic and professional settings, common misconceptualisation of both often leads to confusion for non-experts; for example, with respect to lumping them together erroneously as much the same thing, completely confusing them for one another or, on the other hand, distinguishing them to such an extent that all genuine overlap is ignored. Given the importance of these processes in real-world scenarios, quality education and ‘metaeducation’ is necessary to ensure their appropriate translation to students and educators, alike. Thus, the aim of the current review is to discuss various perspectives on both critical and creative thinking with particular focus paid to addressing such common misconceptualisation. Detailed discussion is provided with respect to important ways in which they are distinct and overlap. Recommendations for what contexts application of each are appropriate are also provided. Furthermore, implications for such enhanced understanding are discussed, in light of both theory and research.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/13/2/23critical thinkingcreative thinkingproblem-solvingreflective judgmentmetacognitionheuristics
spellingShingle Christopher P. Dwyer
Deaglán Campbell
Niall Seery
An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking: Complementary Metacognitive Processes or Strange Bedfellows?
Journal of Intelligence
critical thinking
creative thinking
problem-solving
reflective judgment
metacognition
heuristics
title An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking: Complementary Metacognitive Processes or Strange Bedfellows?
title_full An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking: Complementary Metacognitive Processes or Strange Bedfellows?
title_fullStr An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking: Complementary Metacognitive Processes or Strange Bedfellows?
title_full_unstemmed An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking: Complementary Metacognitive Processes or Strange Bedfellows?
title_short An Evaluation of the Relationship Between Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking: Complementary Metacognitive Processes or Strange Bedfellows?
title_sort evaluation of the relationship between critical thinking and creative thinking complementary metacognitive processes or strange bedfellows
topic critical thinking
creative thinking
problem-solving
reflective judgment
metacognition
heuristics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/13/2/23
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