An unexamined triumvirate: Dogmatism, problem solving, and HRD

Dogmatism is a psychological construct that refers to the open- or closed-mindedness of one's beliefs. A review of the literature on dogmatism and its relationship to problem solving in the workplace revealed that during problem solving one's level of dogmatism influences (a) the type of cognitive reasoning strategy used, (b) the degree of critical reflection that occurs, and (c) the degree of acquiescence to authority figures. Implications of these connections between dogmatism and problem solving for HRD's role in facilitating problem solving in the workplace and for future research are discussed.