how to improve analytical problem solving skills

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How to Improve Analytical Skills

Last Updated: March 30, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Emily Listmann, MA . Emily Listmann is a private tutor in San Carlos, California. She has worked as a Social Studies Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and an SAT Prep Teacher. She received her MA in Education from the Stanford Graduate School of Education in 2014. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 511,380 times.

Analytical skills describe our ability to understand and solve problems using the information we have available. These skills are extremely important for our professional, social, and intellectual lives. As a result, many people have good reason to want to improve their analytical skills. But while improving your analytical skills is not easy, there are a number of things you can do to both passively and actively improve your analytical skills. At the same time, you'll want to test yourself and challenge yourself constantly to keep up and sharpen your skills.

Using Active Approaches

• Practice complicated math problems that include long division, algebra, calculus, and more. These problems will help you develop your logic and reasoning skills and as a result improve your analytical ability.
• Identify math problems in everyday life, then take time to solve them.
• Enroll in a college level math course. Many college level math courses will help you cultivate your analytical skills. [2] X Research source

• One example of a brain game are logic puzzles. Logic puzzles vary and include crossword, riddles, Sudoku, and more. Logic puzzles are available on the internet or at a bookstore near you.
• Play board games. Many board games require you to use your analytical skills and to develop them further. Perhaps the best of these are games like scrabble, some strategy games, and games like chess or checkers.
• Find video games that encourage the development of your analytical skills. A wide array of video games help to improve analytical skills. Some of the best, though, are strategy games and other games that challenge us to solve problems and achieve broad goals. [4] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source

• Book clubs will allow you to talk about what you’ve observed reading a specific piece of literature. You’ll also have the ability to discuss and interact with others who may have a different take on a given piece of literature.
• Debate clubs are excellent ways to hone our analytical skills because our perspective and arguments will be constantly challenged by others who are working on their own debate ability.
• Most any social group that encourages the free exchange of ideas and the pursuit of knowledge will help you to actively develop your analytical skills.

Using Passive Techniques

• Reading extensively. Don’t just focus on one subject or genre.
• Subscribing to newspapers or informational magazines like National Geographic to learn more about the world around you.
• Attending lectures and academic talks and conferences.
• Going back to college or finding free educational classes in your community. [6] X Research source

• Use any opportunity you have to think things over and to examine different scenarios. For example, if you are going to take a pawn with your castle in Chess, instead of just quitting after thinking about the first (or most likely) response your opponent will take, think out all of the possible responses.
• Consider multiple sides of a problem before picking a solution.
• Avoid picking the easiest and simplest solution right away. However, don't rule out the easiest solution, as it might be worthwhile. [7] X Research source

• Try to think about different ways of viewing the world. Do this by trying to step outside of your religious, political, and cultural suppositions about truth.
• Try to understand and even work to defend positions and ideas you would normally dismiss. You can do this by taking important political positions and working to rationalize and defend the opposite viewpoint that you accept.
• Meet with and surround yourself with people who are very different from yourself. Finding people who have different backgrounds and ideas than you will help you understand and accept ideas different than those you are familiar with.

• Think about things in terms of cause and effect. Consider the repercussions of a prolonged drought. What is the impact of the drought? Look beyond the obvious.
• Think about the similarities between things. How are all living things the same? What similar things do both humans and spiders need to exist?
• Think about connections in history. What cycles, patterns, or other common trends do we see? For instance, in American history, consider how periods of reform are often ended by conflict (the Progressive Era and World War One, the New Deal and World War Two, the Great Society and the Vietnam War). [9] X Research source

• For example, when viewing a forest, try to view individual trees and the uniqueness and place each tree has in the forest.
• When meeting new people make sure to memorize their names, what they’re wearing, and any features that set them apart from everyone else. [10] X Research source

• Never take the easy answer. Always keep questioning.
• If you see a dog, observe what it's doing. Ask yourself why it is doing that. Even if it is a simple action. If it is running to fetch a ball or stick, is it doing this for fun? What about hunting instincts? Is it showing loyalty to its owner by doing that? Is the dog looking motivated, or lazy? Why might it be motivated or lazy? [11] X Research source

Putting Your Skills to Work

• Apply for a promotion or a better job. Moving into a more challenging position at work will enable you to further work on and show off your sharpened analytical skills.
• Take on some volunteer positions. Certain volunteer positions like being a scout leader, little league coach, or a tutor for at risk kids will allow you to use your analytical skills and help others. [12] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source

• Try to solve complex problems without aid. Instead of using a calculator to compute a math problem, do it in your head or on paper.
• Avoid the easiest solution or path. While it might seem like a no-brainer to always do the quickest, simplest, or easiest thing to solve a problem, do not. Instead, test yourself by picking the harder way to solve something. [14] X Research source

• Mentor others at work.
• Consider starting a blog where you can share your experience with others.
• Work with your children, friends, or family, who might be struggling with education or professional issues. [15] X Research source

How Do You Improve Critical Thinking Skills?

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://math.as.uky.edu/where-can-math-take-me
• ↑ http://online.stanford.edu/courses/mathematical-thinking-winter-2014
• ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/en-in/lifestyle/how-online-gaming-can-increase-your-productivity/303860
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/02/video-game
• ↑ https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1294499
• ↑ http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/higher-education/431
• ↑ http://www.intropsych.com/ch07_cognition/analytic_vs_holistic_thinking.html
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/curious/201812/10-book-recommendations-expand-your-worldview
• ↑ https://www.businessphrases.net/analytical-skills/
• ↑ http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/experience/skills/analyticalskills/
• ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm
• ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/challenge-your-mind-and-body-to-sharpen-your-thinking-skills-201510298507
• ↑ http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical-thinking-in-everyday-life-9-strategies/512
• ↑ http://www.parentingscience.com/teaching-critical-thinking.html

About This Article

To improve your analytical skills, practice doing math problems, read new books, and play brain games in your free time. Board games like chess and Scrabble are great for cognition. If you can, join a reading or debate club so you can discuss your ideas with others. If you can't, spend more time thinking about the world and asking "Why?" For example, try to figure out the causes and effects of historical or environmental issues. For advice from our Education reviewer about how to put your analytical skills to work, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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