These skills also support achieving personal goals, building good relationships, and meeting professional responsibilities (Gupta, 2017). Overall, improving problem-solving abilities makes us more capable in school, work, and everyday life.

• Description: Critical thinking involves the objective analysis of facts to form a judgment, which is essential in problem-solving. It allows individuals to view problems from multiple angles, ensuring that solutions are based on sound reasoning and evidence.

• Why it matters: By utilizing critical thinking, problem-solvers can avoid biases, identify root causes, and find the most effective solutions to complex issues.

• Resources:

  • 9 Critical Thinking Tools | Better Leadership Decision Making

  • Top 14 Problem Solving Techniques to Improve Student Skills

2. The PDCA Cycle (Plan–Do–Check–Act)

• Description: The PDCA cycle is a widely used iterative model for continuous improvement. It helps break down the problem-solving process into manageable phases:

  • Plan: Identify the problem and design a strategy.

  • Do: Implement the solution on a small scale.

  • Check: Measure and evaluate results.

  • Act: Standardize successful solutions or adjust as needed.

• Why it matters: PDCA ensures that improvements are tested and refined before large-scale implementation, allowing for better decision-making and resource allocation.

• Resources: Deming's PDCA Model

3. Decision-Making

• Description: Decision-making techniques like Cost-Benefit Analysis and Pareto Analysis help evaluate the best course of action when faced with multiple options. These methods guide individuals in making decisions based on solid data and reasoning.

• Why it matters: Effective decision-making is vital in solving problems efficiently, ensuring that the chosen solution provides maximum benefits while minimizing costs and risks.

• Resources:

  • 20 Powerful Problem Solving Techniques for the Modern Workplace - SixSigma.us

  • The 10 Best Decision Making Techniques in Management - Risely

4. The 5 Whys

• Description: The 5 Whys is a simple root cause analysis method where you ask "Why?" five times to get to the core of a problem. It helps identify the underlying cause of an issue, rather than just treating symptoms.

• Why it matters: By uncovering the root cause, the 5 Whys technique leads to more effective and sustainable solutions, preventing recurring problems.

• Resources:

  • How to Use the 5 Whys Method to Solve Complex Problems

  • The 5 Whys Problem-Solving Technique Explained

5. Collaboration and Adaptability

• Description: Effective problem-solving often requires teamwork. Leveraging diverse perspectives and feedback from different team members can lead to more innovative solutions. Adaptability allows individuals to adjust their approach based on new information and changing circumstances.

• Why it matters: Collaboration fosters creativity, and adaptability ensures that solutions remain effective in dynamic environments.

• Resources: Promoting Collaboration in the Modern Workplace

  
  

1 Department of Architecture, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur

2 Department of Education, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

3 School of Education, Sanskriti University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India

4 Department of Education, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Resource: Polya, G. (2004). How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method. Princeton University Press.

2)    Weak critical thinking → Students often struggle to break a complex problem into smaller steps. This prevents them from seeing patterns or connections that could make the solution easier.

Resource: Facione, P. A. (2015). Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts. Insight Assessment.

3)    Poor communication → Learners often find it hard to explain their reasoning or work in groups. Without clear communication, ideas remain unclear and teamwork becomes less effective.

Resource: Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.

4)    Fear of failure → Many learners are afraid of making mistakes, so they avoid trying new approaches. This fear limits creativity and stops them from learning through trial and error.

Resource: Elliot, A. J., & Church, M. A. (1997). A Hierarchical Model of Approach and Avoidance Achievement Motivation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(1), 218–232.

5)    Lack of resources → Students with limited access to books, tools, or proper study spaces face more difficulties. Without the right materials, problem solving becomes a struggle.

Resource: UNESCO. (2014). Teaching and Learning: Achieving quality for all. Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2013/4. Paris: UNESCO.

•Individual can use problem-solving skills to identify the needs of their communities and develop innovative solutions to address those needs (Kwangmuang et al., 2021; Sumarno, 2019).

•Comprehensive framework for creative problem-solving that emphasizes the importance of understanding problems from multiple perspectives, generating a wide range of potential solutions and creating a supportive environment for creativity (Laar et al., 2020; Muhali, 2019).

•The Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model has been used in education to help students develop problem-solving skills and to promote creativity and innovation in the classroom.

•CPS is a theoretical model that supports problem-solving skills. It consists of six stages understanding the problem, generating ideas developing solutions, planning for action, taking action and evaluating results (Bravo et al., 2021; Mee Mee et al., 2020).

• Creativity is closely linked to problem-solving skills and can be promoted by providing learners with opportunities for creative expression and exploration (A. P. Astuti et al., 2019; Hawari & Noor, 2020; Rahmatullah et al., 2022).

•A meta-analysis of research on problem-based learning found that students who engaged in problem-solving activities performed better on tests of critical thinking, problem-solving, and content knowledge than those who don’t (Dochy et al., 2003).

See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371350794

• cognitive process of identifying, analyzing, and resolving challenges to achieve a desired goal.

Historical Roots

• Philosophy: Ancient Greek philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle emphasized reasoning and logical thinking as tools for solving problems.

https://iep.utm.edu/ancient-greek-philosophy/

Importance

• Essential in education (critical thinking skills).

• Crucial for business and management (decision-making, innovation).

• Central to computer science and AI (search algorithms, optimization).

• Important in daily life (resolving conflicts, making personal choices).

Authors:

            •          Qiang Zhang, Shanshan Wang, and Jing Li are researchers in education and psychology.

Publisher:

            •          Published in 2025 by Frontiers in Psychology, a peer-reviewed, open-access, international journal ranked as one of the most cited in psychology.

Content:

            •          Investigates how interdisciplinary thematic learning (teaching across subjects through real-world themes) influences middle school students’ problem-solving skills in order to tackle complex issues encountered in real life

            •          Used case study methods (observations, interviews, classroom activities) with 47 students in Sichuan Province, China.

           •          Provides empirical evidence supporting curriculum reforms that emphasize real-world learning over rote memorization.

            •          Emphasizes how learning anchored in real-world problems and spanning multiple disciplines better equips students with problem-solving skills.

Citation:

Zhang, Q., Wang, S., & Li, J. (2025). The influence of thematic interdisciplinary learning on middle school students’ problem-solving ability. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1447089. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1447089

Video

Problem Solving Explained with Simple & Powerful Examples

Publisher:

            •          YouTube

Content:

            •          Leverages real-world examples, ranging from household fixes to major corporate challenges.

            •          Showcases real-life scenarios where problem-solving techniques are put into action.

            •          Highlight how individuals and teams apply critical thinking, creativity, and perseverance.

Citation:

Problem Solving Explained with Simple & Powerful Examples. (2023, March 22). YouTube. Retrieved August 26, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDf1H-TJZLA