problem solving in 9001

• Advisera Home
• ISO in General

Partner Panel

ISO 9001 Documentation Toolkits

Iso 9001 training.

• Documentation Toolkits
• White Papers
• Templates & Tools

Where to Start

New ai tool.

• Live Consultations
• Consultant Directory
• For Consultants

Carlos Pereira da Cruz

• Get Started

How to use root cause analysis to support corrective actions in your QMS

When creating a Quality Management System (QMS) using the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 , you will find that corrective action is one of the key elements to a good QMS. In fact, this was so important that the previous version of ISO 9001 included corrective action as one of only six mandatory documented procedures. Considering how important this process is to the success of a good Quality Management System, it is surprising that so many companies struggle to make corrective actions work to their benefit.

Root Cause Analysis: The most important part of corrective action

As has already been discussed in ISO 9001 – Difference between correction and corrective action , a correction is the action you take to perform an immediate fix of the most obvious problem to remove the nonconformity and make the product or service acceptable to use. This will take little investigation to find, and is a quick fix for this one-time problem; however, it does not take action to prevent the problem from happening again.

If you have identified that a problem is more serious than one simple non-conformance, and you need to perform corrective action to prevent the problem from happening again, you will want to use a systematic process to ensure you do not miss anything – such as the Seven Steps for Corrective and Preventive Actions to support Continual Improvement . In a corrective action process, it is critical that you do not just try to fix the easy-to-see causes; instead, you need to look deeper into the cause of the problem to find the root cause so that you can correct this.

Only when you find and correct the root cause of a problem will you truly ensure that the non-conformance does not happen again.

Some simple, yet effective root cause analysis tools

There are many ways to investigate the root cause of a problem, both intricate and simple. Two of the most commonly used methods are very simple to use once you understand how they work, and can help to ensure that you think further into a problem to find the root cause so that you can fix it; these two tools are the “5 why” and “fishbone diagram” tools.

5 why: With this simple root cause analysis tool you just start with your problem and ask “why” until you come to the ultimate cause. This may take more or less than five “whys,” but five questions will commonly come to the root of the problem. An example could be for an error that caused a part to be made that did not fit into an assembly:

• Why did the part not fit? – The part was too long.
• Why was the part too long? – The drawing was incorrect.
• Why was the drawing incorrect? – The mechanical designer did not notice the interference in dimensions in the design.
• Why was the interference not noticed? – The design process did not require a step to make this comparison.
• The corrective action is to update the design process to include a specific step where the mechanical designer will perform an interference check in the design software before the drawings are created to ensure that all parts will fit in the assembly.

Fishbone diagram: Often called “cause and effect diagram” or “herringbone diagram,” this tool was first created by Karou Ishikawa in 1968 and is used as a method to organize a team to brainstorm the possible causes of a problem. It is considered one of the seven basic tools of quality.

• All potential causes of the specific problem are listed under six main cause headings that can contribute to a problem: methods, manpower, machine, material, measurement, and environment.
• Once all potential causes are listed, they are reviewed and eliminated one by one through investigation or experimentation until the most likely root cause is found. Sometimes there is more than one potential most likely cause identified.
• Corrective action can then take place to address the root cause or causes identified from the analysis.

As I mentioned above, sometimes extremely complex problems will require very intricate root cause analysis methods to solve. Some examples that you might want to find out more about are: design of experiments, fault tree analysis, failure modes and effect analysis, or one of many others.

Root cause analysis: Worth the effort for systemic problems

Especially when you have a systemic problem that keeps recurring, and is costing money, resources, or customer satisfaction, you will want to make sure it does not happen again. When this happens, doing good root cause analysis as part of your corrective action process will help you reap the most benefit by solving the problem once and for all. Besides, after putting in the effort to correct a problem once, you don’t want to have to do it again.

Enroll in this free online training: ISO 9001 Foundations Course to learn more about corrective actions.

Related Products

ISO 9001 Documentation Toolkit

Integrated iso 9001/14001/45001 toolkit.

ISO 9001 Foundations Course

Upcoming free webinar.

Suggested reading

You may unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please see our privacy notice .

Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D)

– Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving –

⇓   Introduction to 8D

⇓   What is 8D

⇓   Why Apply 8D

⇓   When to Apply 8D

⇓   How to Apply 8D

Introduction to Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D)

The Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D) is a problem solving methodology designed to find the root cause of a problem, devise a short-term fix and implement a long-term solution to prevent recurring problems. When it’s clear that your product is defective or isn’t satisfying your customers, an 8D is an excellent first step to improving Quality and Reliability.

Ford Motor Company developed this problem solving methodology, then known as Team Oriented Problem Solving (TOPS), in the 1980s. The early usage of 8D proved so effective that it was adopted by Ford as the primary method of documenting problem solving efforts, and the company continues to use 8D today.

8D has become very popular among manufacturers because it is effective and reasonably easy to teach. Below you’ll find the benefits of an 8D, when it is appropriate to perform and how it is performed.

What is Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D)

The 8D problem solving process is a detailed, team oriented approach to solving critical problems in the production process. The goals of this method are to find the root cause of a problem, develop containment actions to protect customers and take corrective action to prevent similar problems in the future.

The strength of the 8D process lies in its structure, discipline and methodology. 8D uses a composite methodology, utilizing best practices from various existing approaches. It is a problem solving method that drives systemic change, improving an entire process in order to avoid not only the problem at hand but also other issues that may stem from a systemic failure.

8D has grown to be one of the most popular problem solving methodologies used for Manufacturing, Assembly and Services around the globe. Read on to learn about the reasons why the Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving may be a good fit for your company.

Why Apply Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D)

The 8D methodology is so popular in part because it offers your engineering team a consistent, easy-to-learn and thorough approach to solving whatever problems might arise at various stages in your production process. When properly applied, you can expect the following benefits:

• Improved team oriented problem solving skills rather than reliance on the individual
• Increased familiarity with a structure for problem solving
• Creation and expansion of a database of past failures and lessons learned to prevent problems in the future
• Better understanding of how to use basic statistical tools required for problem solving
• Improved effectiveness and efficiency at problem solving
• A practical understanding of Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• Problem solving effort may be adopted into the processes and methods of the organization
• Improved skills for implementing corrective action
• Better ability to identify necessary systemic changes and subsequent inputs for change
• More candid and open communication in problem solving discussion, increasing effectiveness
• An improvement in management’s understanding of problems and problem resolution

8D was created to represent the best practices in problem solving. When performed correctly, this methodology not only improves the Quality and Reliability of your products but also prepares your engineering team for future problems.

When to Apply Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D)

The 8D problem solving process is typically required when:

• Safety or Regulatory issues has been discovered
• Customer complaints are received
• Warranty Concerns have indicated greater-than-expected failure rates
• Internal rejects, waste, scrap, poor performance or test failures are present at unacceptable levels

How to Apply Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D)

The 8D process alternates inductive and deductive problem solving tools to relentlessly move forward toward a solution. The Quality-One approach uses a core team of three individuals for inductive activities with data driven tools and then a larger Subject Matter Expert (SME) group for the deductive activities through brainstorming, data-gathering and experimentation.

D0: Prepare and Plan for the 8D

Proper planning will always translate to a better start. Thus, before 8D analysis begins, it is always a good idea to ask an expert first for their impressions. After receiving feedback, the following criterion should be applied prior to forming a team:

Collect information on the symptoms

Use a Symptoms Checklist to ask the correct questions

Identify the need for an Emergency Response Action (ERA), which protects the customer from further exposure to the undesired symptoms

D1: Form a Team

A Cross Functional Team (CFT) is made up of members from many disciplines. Quality-One takes this principle one step further by having two levels of CFT:

• The Core Team Structure should involve three people on the respective subjects: product, process and data
• Additional Subject Matter Experts are brought in at various times to assist with brainstorming, data collection and analysis

Teams require proper preparation. Setting the ground rules is paramount. Implementation of disciplines like checklists, forms and techniques will ensure steady progress.  8D must always have two key members: a Leader and a Champion / Sponsor:

• The Leader is the person who knows the 8D process and can lead the team through it (although not always the most knowledgeable about the problem being studied)
• The Champion or Sponsor is the one person who can affect change by agreeing with the findings and can provide final approval on such changes

D2: Describe the Problem

The 8D method’s initial focus is to properly describe the problem utilizing the known data and placing it into specific categories for future comparisons. The “Is” data supports the facts whereas the “Is Not” data does not. As the “Is Not” data is collected, many possible reasons for failure are able to be eliminated. This approach utilizes the following tools:

• Problem Statement
• Affinity Diagram (Deductive tool)
• Fishbone/Ishikawa Diagram (Deductive tool)
• Problem Description

D3: Interim Containment Action

In the interim, before the permanent corrective action has been determined, an action to protect the customer can be taken. The Interim Containment Action (ICA) is temporary and is typically removed after the Permanent Correct Action (PCA) is taken.

• Verification of effectiveness of the ICA is always recommended to prevent any additional customer dissatisfaction calls

D4: Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Escape Point

The root cause must be identified to take permanent action to eliminate it. The root cause definition requires that it can be turned on or off, at will. Activities in D4 include:

• Comparative Analysis listing differences and changes between “Is” and “Is Not”
• Development of Root Cause Theories based on remaining items
• Verification of the Root Cause through data collection
• Review Process Flow Diagram for location of the root cause
• Determine Escape Point, which is the closest point in the process where the root cause could have been found but was not

D5: Permanent Corrective Action (PCA)

The PCA is directed toward the root cause and removes / changes the conditions of the product or process that was responsible for the problem. Activities in D5 include:

• Establish the Acceptance Criteria which include Mandatory Requirements and Wants
• Perform a Risk Assessment /  Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) on the PCA choices
• Based on risk assessment, make a balanced choice for PCA
• Select control-point improvement for the Escape Point
• Verification of Effectiveness for both the PCA and the Escape Point are required

D6: Implement and Validate the Permanent Corrective Action

To successfully implement a permanent change, proper planning is essential. A project plan should encompass: communication, steps to complete, measurement of success and lessons learned. Activities in D6 include:

• Develop Project Plan for Implementation
• Communicate the plan to all stakeholders
• Validation of improvements using measurement

D7: Prevent Recurrence

D7 affords the opportunity to preserve and share the knowledge, preventing problems on similar products, processes, locations or families. Updating documents and procedures / work instructions are expected at this step to improve future use. Activities in D7 include:

• Review Similar Products and Processes for problem prevention
• Develop / Update Procedures and Work Instructions for Systems Prevention
• Capture Standard Work / Practice and reuse
• Assure FMEA updates have been completed
• Assure Control Plans have been updated

D8: Closure and Team Celebration

Teams require feedback to allow for satisfactory closure. Recognizing both team and individual efforts and allowing the team to see the previous and new state solidifies the value of the 8D process. Activities in D8 include:

• Archive the 8D Documents for future reference
• Document Lessons Learned on how to make problem solving better
• Before and After Comparison of issue
• Celebrate Successful Completion

8D and Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

The 8D process has Root Cause Analysis (RCA) imbedded within it. All problem solving techniques include RCA within their structure. The steps and techniques within 8D which correspond to Root Cause Analysis are as follows:

• Problem Symptom is quantified and converted to “Object and Defect”
• Problem Symptom is converted to Problem Statement using Repeated Whys
• Possible and Potential Causes are collected using deductive tools (i.e. Fishbone or Affinity Diagram)
• Problem Statement is converted into Problem Description using Is / Is Not
• Problem Description reduces the number of items on the deductive tool (from step 3)
• Comparative Analysis between the Is and Is Not items (note changes and time)
• Root Cause theories are developed from remaining possible causes on deductive tool and coupled with changes from Is / Is Not
• Compare theories with current data and develop experiments for Root Cause Verification
• Test and confirm the Root Causes

Example: Multiple Why Technique

The Multiple / Repeated Why (Similar to 5 Why) is an inductive tool, which means facts are required to proceed to a more detailed level. The steps required to determine problem statement are:

• Problem Symptom is defined as an Object and Defect i.e. “Passenger Injury”
• Why? In every case “SUV’s Roll Over”
• Why? In every case, it was preceded by a “Blown Tire”
• Why? Many explanations may be applied, therefore the team cannot continue with another repeated why past “Blown Tire”
• Therefore, the Problem Statement is “Blown Tire”
• Why? Low (Air) Pressure, Tire Defect (Degradation of an Interface) and High (Ambient) Temperature
• Counter measures assigned to low pressure and tire defect

This example uses only 4 of the 5 Whys to determine the root causes without going further into the systemic reasons that supported the failure. The Repeated Why is one way to depict this failure chain. Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) could also be used.

Learn More About Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D)

Quality-One offers Quality and Reliability Support for Product and Process Development through Consulting, Training and Project Support. Quality-One provides Knowledge, Guidance and Direction in Quality and Reliability activities, tailored to your unique wants, needs and desires. Let us help you Discover the Value of 8D Consulting , 8D Training or 8D Project Support .

Contact Us | Discover the Value!

(248) 280-4800 | [email protected]

Remember Me

• Don't have an account? Register
• Lost your password? Click here
• Already have an account? Log in

NIIX Quality Management System Software

QMS ISO 9001 Software

ISO 9001 Approach – Prioritize Actions Taken To Address Risks And Opportunities

David Finney, CQP MCQI, founder of The Energy of Conversation and trainer in coaching and auditing, shares his top tips for problem solving, while meeting the requirements for ISO 9001:2015.

I’ve been training professionals in coaching and auditing skills for many years. When I discuss internal issues arising in business I constantly come across the same two themes – a lack of resources and a lack of communication.

During these conversations it becomes clear that organisations are rich with talented individuals who are highly motivated to make improvements, but are possibly missing some problem solving techniques.

Throughout my career, I have come across several methods for problem solving and typically everything starts with a conversation. Here are some of the methods I think are the most effective.

One problem we face each day is how to effectively prioritise. Bryan Tracey’s ABCDE method facilitates the slicing of tasks into priority groups based on risk, with ‘A’ tasks being top priority.

This is great for managing risk and can be a useful way to approach ISO 9001:2015 Clause 6.1.2, which says: ‘Actions taken to address risks and opportunities shall be proportionate to the potential impact on the conformity of products and services.’

Tracey gives each task a letter, to help you prioritise:

A – ‘Very important’ tasks you must do or there could be serious negative consequences.

B – ‘Important’ tasks you should do or there may be minor negative consequences.

C – ‘Nice to do’ tasks that have possible motivational factors but no negative consequences.

D – Tasks that should be ‘delegated’ – seek help if you feel you should not be involved in the task.

E – Tasks that should be ‘eliminated’, this is a chance to remove tasks if they hold no value or opportunity.

Try on a new hat

Edward de Bono created a skilful method of promoting creativity in problem solving using a structured and fun way of talking through an issue. The process requires a facilitator and the ‘hats’ can be virtual or represented by images.

Each hat signifies a stage in the problem-solving process. First, everyone puts on the blue hat to look at the big picture and then they try on each hat, in turn, to focus everyone on thinking in a detailed cohesive way during each phase of the process.

ISO 9001:2015, Clause 5.1.1, emphasises the importance of engaging, directing and supporting people to contribute to the effectiveness of the quality management system. Using the six thinking hats technique fosters this engagement and enables a 360-degree perspective and input from those involved in the process.

A hat is assigned to each step in the process:

Blue hat – What is the issue? What is the scope of the discussion?

White hat – What do we know for sure? What data is available to us? Only review the facts during this phase.

Red hat – What do we feel? What is our gut feeling? Focus on emotions in this phase.

Green hat – What ideas do we have? What could we do? Creativity only in this phase, there should be no criticism or cynicism and anything goes, the more outlandish the ideas the better.

Yellow hat – What benefits might some of these ideas bring? What advantages do they have? Be optimistic and positive in this phase.

Black hat – What concerns do we have over the ideas expressed? How practical are they? What expense might be involved? Don’t be afraid to challenge ideas.

Blue hat – The team should return to the blue hat and ask: where are we in addressing the issue? Has the scope widened? Do we have a solution or a path to a solution?

Think positively

Motivating your team is vital when things appear to go wrong in a process. Appreciative coaching consists of gathering the team together and spending an hour simply talking about what is going well to accentuate the positive.

Taking time out to appreciate the strengths of the people in the team, the software, the hardware, all aspects of the process can be very motivational and might just lead to opportunities to make improvements.

For example, I have seen a team recognise good practice in one area and implement it in another area as a result of this technique, helping them to determine opportunities for improvement ( ISO 9001:2015 , Clause 10.1).

One of the most common reasons for mistakes is human error but does that make us lazy and is that always the root cause? The Five Whys technique finds the root cause of a defect by encouraging the team to answer the question ‘why?’ five times, leading to the deeper cause of the problem.

Let’s look at an example: an IT Support company defines an incident as a customer reporting a software or hardware fault and has two key performance indicators – the number of incidents reported each month and the number of hours it takes to resolve an incident.

A customer makes a complaint that their email kept crashing after a new software version was installed and said it took almost three days to resolve it.

The company investigated the complaint by interviewing the support team leader who said the engineer had made a mistake by mistyping the completion date. So, should you stop here and call it a nonconformity due to human error or ask more questions?

By delving deeper it turns out the software should not have allowed a completion date of more than 48 hours.

These techniques emphasise the importance of conversation and a driving factor is asking the right questions to ensure the right results.

However, with the recent release of ISO 9001:2015, risk-based thinking could turn out to be the biggest problem solver yet, because there is no better solution for a problem than to stop it from ever being a problem in the first place.

Attribute to original publisher/ publishing organization: David Finney, CQP MCQI, founder of The Energy of Conversation and trainer in coaching and auditing, https://www.quality.org/knowledge/%E2%80%8Btop-tips-problem-solving-iso-90012015

• ISO 9001:2015

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management . It helps organizations of all sizes and sectors to improve their performance, meet customer expectations and demonstrate their commitment to quality. Its requirements define how to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve a quality management system (QMS).

Implementing ISO 9001 means your organization has put in place effective processes and trained staff to deliver flawless products or services time after time.

Why is ISO 9001 important?

With more than one million certificates issued to organizations in 189 countries, ISO 9001 is the most widely used quality management standard in the world. Within the ISO 9000 family, which defines seven quality management principles including a strong customer focus and continual improvement, ISO 9001 is the only standard that can be certified to (though certification is not mandatory).

Business benefits include:

• Customer confidence : The standard ensures that organizations have robust quality control processes in place, leading to increased customer trust and satisfaction.
• Effective complaint resolution : ISO 9001 offers guidelines for resolving customer complaints efficiently, contributing to timely and satisfactory problem-solving.
• Process improvement : The standard helps identify and eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste, streamline operations, and promote informed decision-making, resulting in cost savings and better outcomes.
• Ongoing optimization : Regular audits and reviews encouraged by ISO 9001 enable organizations to continually refine their quality management systems, stay competitive, and achieve long-term success.

Sign up for email updates

Register to receive resources and updates on ISO 9001 and related topics.

Almost done!  You are only one step away from joining the ISO subscriber list. Please confirm your subscription by clicking on the email we've just sent to you. You will not be registered until you confirm your subscription. If you can't find the email, kindly check your spam folder and/or the promotions tab (if you use Gmail).

To learn how your data will be used, please see our privacy notice .

What is ISO 9001: Quick guide to ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems

Benefits of ISO 9001

•   Increased customer trust and satisfaction
• Sound quality control processes
•  Cost savings and productivity gains
•  Culture of continuous improvement

Who should use the ISO 9001 standard?

Any organization that wants to improve its quality management system, meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, and enhance customer satisfaction can use the ISO 9001 standard. It is suitable for organizations of any size, and applies to all sectors, including manufacturing, services, healthcare, education, government, and non-profit organizations. ISO 9001 can also be used by certification bodies or other third parties to assess an organization’s conformity with this International Standard.

Is there a standard adapting the requirements of ISO 9001 to my sector?

ISO has a range of standards for quality management systems that are based on ISO 9001 and adapted to specific sectors and industries. These include:

• ISO 13485 on  medical devices  
• ISO/TS 54001 on elections at all levels of government
• ISO 18091 on   local government sector applications
• ISO 22163 on   railway  sector applications 
• ISO 29001 on  petroleum , petrochemical and natural gas -related products and services
• ISO/IEC/IEEE 90003 on  computer software

What topics does ISO 9001 cover?

The ISO 9001 standard specifies requirements for the establishment , maintenance , and continuous improvement of a quality management system , covering a wide range of topics including:

• Context of the organization : ISO 9001 requires organizations to determine the external and internal factors that affect their ability to achieve the intended results of their quality management system.
• Leadership : The standard emphasizes the importance of leadership in implementing and maintaining a quality management system.
• Planning : The quality management system must include measures designed to achieve an organization’s quality objectives and continuously improve the system’s effectiveness.
• Support : ISO 9001 addresses issues such as resources, competence, awareness, communication and documented information.
• Operation : The processes necessary to meet customer requirements and increase customer satisfaction must be planned, implemented and controlled.
• Performance evaluation : The standard requires organizations to monitor, measure, analyze and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of their quality management system.
• Improvement : ISO 9001 emphasizes the importance of continuously increasing the effectiveness of the quality management system based on the results of performance evaluation and other data sources.

Overall, ISO 9001 helps organizations address all aspects of managing the quality of their products and services , with an emphasis on customer satisfaction and constant enhancement of the quality management system.

Why is another revision for ISO 9001 under development?

The most recent revision of ISO 9001 was finalized in 2015. Ensuring that all ISO standards remain current and relevant for the marketplace is crucial. After extensive international consultation, a consensus was reached in August 2023 that revising the standard would add value. This revision aims to align ISO 9001 with the current needs of standard users and the communities they serve.

When will the next edition of ISO 9001 be published?

The revised version of ISO 9001 is expected to be published at the end of 2025.

I am certified to ISO 9001:2015. What does this revision mean for me?

The publication of the revised standard will present an excellent opportunity for you to review and update your quality management system . Take this chance to ensure that your system effectively addresses any changes and aligns well with your needs, as well as those of your customers and other stakeholders. At the time of publication, ample information will be provided about the updates made and how they may impact organizations. To stay informed and receive timely notifications, we invite you to  subscribe to our email updates .

In terms of validity of their certificates, organizations certified to ISO 9001:2015 will be granted a transition period to migrate their quality management system to the new edition of the standard.

What is ISO 9001 certification and does my organization need to get certified?

Certification to ISO 9001 is one way to demonstrate to stakeholders and customers that you are committed and able to consistently deliver high quality products or services. Holding a certificate issued by an accredited conformity assessment body may bring an additional layer of confidence, as an accreditation body has provided independent confirmation of the certification body’s competence.

As with other ISO management system standards, companies implementing ISO 9001 can choose whether they want to go through a certification process or not.

Checking that the system works is a vital part of ISO 9001. The standard recommends that an organization performs internal audits to check how its quality management system is working. An organization may decide to invite an independent certification body to verify that it is in conformity with the standard, but there is no requirement for this. Alternatively, you might invite your clients to audit the quality system for themselves.

As in other contexts, standards should always be referred to with their full reference in statements on certification such as “certified to ISO 9001:2015” (not just: “certified to ISO 9001). If you wish to use a logo to demonstrate certification, please contact the certification body that issued your certificate. See full details about use of the ISO logo .

Where can I find help with auditing ISO 9001?

Support on auditing quality management systems can be found on the website of the ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group . This is an informal group of quality management system experts, auditors and practitioners from ISO/TC 176 and the International Accreditation Forum.

What is the ISO definition of quality?

A definition of quality is part of the core vocabulary for quality management which can be found in ISO 9000:2015   and applies to all ISO quality management standards, including ISO 9001. It says that quality is the “degree to which a set of inherent characteristics [or distinguishing features] of an object”, which in turn is defined as anything perceivable or conceivable, such as a product, service, process, person, organization, system or resource, “fulfils requirements.”

What is the difference between ISO 9001 and ISO 14001?

ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are both International Standards for organizational management but they have different goals. ISO 9001 helps organizations improve their quality management and customer satisfaction. ISO 14001 helps organizations reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainability. ISO standards that look at different types of management systems , such as ISO 9001 for quality and ISO 14001 for environmental management , are all structured in the same way. This means that companies using one ISO management standard will find it easy to integrate other aspects of organizational management into their existing management system.

What is the difference between ISO 9001 and ISO 13485?

The International Standards ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 both define requirements for quality management systems, but one has a much broader user group than the other. ISO 9001 provides a quality management framework that can apply to organizations of any size or sector. ISO 13485, on the other hand, has been developed specifically for the medical device industry with a focus on regulatory compliance. The standard helps ensure the safety and effectiveness of medical devices, including risk management, traceability and process validation. Compared to ISO 9001, it contains additional requirements specific to organizations involved in the life cycle of medical devices, whereas elements of ISO 9001 that are not relevant as regulatory requirements are not part of ISO 13485.

In short, while ISO 9001 sets out a general framework for quality management, ISO 13485 provides specific guidance for the medical device industry .

General information

• Status  :  Published Publication date  :  2015-09 Corrected version (fr)  :  2015-09 Stage : International Standard to be revised [ 90.92 ]
• Edition  : 5 Number of pages  : 29
• Technical Committee : ISO/TC 176/SC 2 ICS  : 03.100.70   03.120.10  
• RSS  updates

 Amendments

Amendments are issued when it is found that new material may need to be added to an existing standardization document. They may also include editorial or technical corrections to be applied to the existing document.

Amendment 1

Climate action changes.

Edition 2024

ISO 9001:2008

Iso 9001:2008/cor 1:2009.

• 00 Preliminary
• 10.99 2012-10-05 New project approved
• 20 Preparatory
• 30.00 2013-06-03 Committee draft (CD) registered
• 30.20 2013-06-04 CD consultation initiated
• 30.60 2013-09-12 Close of comment period
• 30.99 2013-11-12 CD approved for registration as DIS
• 40.00 2014-05-09 DIS registered
• 40.20 2014-07-10 DIS ballot initiated: 12 weeks
• 40.60 2014-10-12 Close of voting
• 40.99 2015-02-17 Full report circulated: DIS approved for registration as FDIS
• 50.00 2015-05-05 Final text received or FDIS registered for formal approval
• 50.20 2015-07-09 Proof sent to secretariat or FDIS ballot initiated: 8 weeks
• 50.60 2015-09-11 Close of voting. Proof returned by secretariat
• 60.00 2015-09-11 International Standard under publication
• 60.60 2015-09-22 International Standard published
• 90.20 2020-07-15 International Standard under systematic review
• 90.60 2020-12-03 Close of review
• 90.93 2021-05-20 International Standard confirmed
• 90.92 2023-11-16 International Standard to be revised
• 90.93 International Standard confirmed
• 90.99 Withdrawal of International Standard proposed by TC or SC
• 95.99 Withdrawal of International Standard

ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024

Will be replaced by, iso/cd 9001.

Got a question?

Check out our FAQs

Opening hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00-12:00, 14:00-17:00 (UTC+1)

• Standards catalogue

Add to cart

• Find a Registrar
• Find a Consultant
• Find a Training Program
• Find an Auditor
• Find a Career
• Industry News
• About ISO Update
• Advertising On ISO Update
• List Your Business
• Publish Your Work

Improving ISO 9001 Root Cause Analysis

When analyzing a problem and determining its root cause, you need to apply logical and critical thinking, analytical skills and calculations to fit pieces together like a puzzle to present a picture that makes sense to the beholder. When fixing a problem, it shouldn’t be enough to just use a band-aid solution – if you fix the symptoms only, the problem is more likely to occur again. You should want to determine the root cause of the problem to ensure that it never happens again. Determining a root cause can be an easy few questions and answers, but here at ISO Update, we want to help you improve your ISO 9001 Root Cause Analysis to ensure your organization is performing at its best.

Determining your Root Cause

A root cause analysis is a technique used to understand and solve a problem. It helps the observer to locate the cause and reason/factors that led to the problem in the first place. Simply put, by performing a root cause analysis you will identify the problem, find its cause and determine what measures should be taken to erase the problem to ensure it won’t happen again.

• What is the problem?
• What are the symptoms?
• What circumstances prompted this problem to arise?
• What caused the problem?
• Are there other problems related to this problem?

Using open-ended questions and continuing to be curious will allow you to determine the actual problem, and its actual cause, not just your initial assumptions. It’s entirely possible your assumption is correct, but ensure you are properly investigating every aspect of the problem and its cause to ensure you are not providing band-aid solutions to problems that aren’t really a problem. The more you polish your ability to question your surroundings, the more your brain will grow its powers of analysis, cause detecting abilities, and potential abilities to root out any problem. Using frameworks and techniques like the 5 Whys – used in the Analyze phase of the Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) methodology – can help you organize your thoughts into a rational flow while digging deep into the root cause of a problem.

The 5 Whys & Its Benefits

The 5 Whys Methodology asks you to “Ask Why”. It’s an interview and questioning tactic meant to help in identifying the root cause problem quickly, and logically. Furthermore, it helps in determining the relationship between different root causes, it can be learned quickly and doesn’t require statistical analysis. The first rule of thumb for determining any cause of the problem is understanding the fundamental issue. It consists of identifying what exactly is the problem.

Let’s consider an example – Problem Statement:  You are on your way to work and your car stops in the middle of the road.

1. Why did your car stop?

• Because it ran out of gas.

2. Why did it run out of gas?

• Because I didn’t buy any gas on my way to work.

3. Why didn’t you put gas in your car on your way to work?

• Because I was running late

4. Why were you running late to work?

• Because I over-slept

5. Why did you over-sleep?

• Because I worked late last night working overtime.

6. Why did you work overtime

• Because I need more money to afford XYZ

Interesting. Here we learnt that our employees are late to work and losing sleep because they feel they need to work overtime to afford something. What was an original assumption that a person was lazy or unreliable to work, is actually a person struggling and needing more money to enjoy their life outside of work. What may have been a management decision to discipline a late employee now becomes a discussion on employee work satisfaction, wages and overtime best practices. Do not restrict yourself to 5 Why’s, and sometimes 5 is too many, instead use this method to help find answers, ask more questions, and stop asking why when you are satisfied you have valid information to work from.

Why should companies embrace root cause? According to ERIC RIES of Harvard Business Review, there are four benefits

• It helps find the human problem.
• Determine the time to fix the problem.
• Prevent operational problems.
• Find your optimal pace of work.

Improving your Analysis

A good way to start expanding your analytical skills is through the power of the observation. The more you expose yourself to different ideas, the more you’ll increase your own cognitive abilities. Analysis is more of a learned skill, like Sherlock Holmes, a powerful observation could reveal to you the most deeply hidden secrets and faults. It’s about honing your skills, keeping your eyes open to the minor details and then filing them away one by one like puzzle pieces. Done properly all the data you store up in your brain will present itself to be sorted in order.

After completing your Root Cause Analysis and learning Why? the next step is figuring out How? How did your system allow this problem to happen? – How to place the data you have collected in its proper order? How to properly do things moving forward? Answering this will help determine the correct order and importance of the events you need to complete to correct your system. Improving your Root Cause Analysis with the 5 Why’s and finding the root of a problem and not just fixing a problem with a band-aid will help your overall business and most likely increase employee morale. Strive to constantly improve your analysis skills by practising your problem-solving skills. Ask questions of your employees and interested parties, and care about their answers. Collect information in the most simple ways – observe your everyday organization, their problems, their triumphs and collect data, categorize everything and then go deeper to the root of the problem to rule out all the symptoms that are causing the problems in the first place. Improve your root cause analysis by always staying curious.

ISO Terms Explained

To the novice quality manager, ISO jargon can be extremely overwhelming. What is an NCR? What do you mean by OFI? Are we certified or accredited? But before you go and pull out your hair, let’s take a moment to go over some of the most frequently used terms and their definitions with regards to ISO and Management System Certification.

NO COMMENTS

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

For those planning training sessions or candidates intending to take an online exam during this period, we will be offering online exam sessions on December 27 and 29, as well as January 5, 2024. You can check the link to online exam events here .

An online learning platform offering expert-led video capsules and certificate programs to unlock a world of knowledge.

A gathering of professionals and experts who discuss on the latest trends and topics

An authentic source of information and inspiration

Online store for ISO and IEC standards, Toolkits, eBooks, etc.

• / Resources

The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle: A Guide to Continuous Improvement

The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle is a quality management methodology that aims to continuously improve processes. 

This continual improvement approach was first developed and used in the 1950s by Dr. William Edwards Deming and since then it gained popularity and is now used by many organizations. Originally, the concept used by Deming was Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) , a systematic method used to test and study the implemented changes. The PDSA cycle led to the distinguished process of the PDCA cycle .

The Four Stages of the PDCA Cycle

The PDCA cycle is based on a scientific method and emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making. 

The four stages of the PDCA cycle are:  

The Plan stage is the first step in the PDCA process. One of its main objectives is to identify any problems or issues, and the other is to find opportunities for improvement. During this stage, it is important to clearly define the problems and opportunities, set goals and objectives, and develop a plan of action. 

Throughout the process, developers of the plan should gather data related to problems and opportunities, identify the root causes, and determine all the steps that need to be taken to address them. A well-thought and well-designed plan increases the chances of success and effectiveness.

After careful planning, now it is time to follow all the steps outlined in the Plan step and put the plan into action. This happens in the Do step which is the second stage of the PDCA process. This stage may involve many changes in processes, training of personnel, etc. It is important to apply these changes on small scales as it is easier to control their effectiveness.

During this stage, implementers should also collect data that helps to control, monitor, and measure the process results based on the prior set parameters. 

The Check step is the stage where the results are analyzed. It involves monitoring and evaluating the actions taken in the Do step. It is used to determine the effectiveness of the plan and to avoid recurring mistakes. 

During this step, organizations collect data on the results of the action previously taken on the Do step and use that to measure the success of the plan. The results are compared to the objectives and goals set during the Plan step, and they are evaluated to identify areas of improvement.

The Act step in the PDCA cycle is the final stage where organizations implement the effective solution evaluated in the Check step. The goal of the Act step is to ensure continuous improvement and learning in the problem-solving process.

During the Act step, organizations review the results from the Check step, identify gaps between actual and desired outcomes, and modify the solution if necessary. Afterward, they implement the modified plan and monitor its effectiveness. It is a critical ongoing process that ensures the achievement of the desired goals. 

Key Benefits of the PDCA Cycle

The PDCA cycle provides several benefits for organizations:  

• Continuous improvement – PDCA helps organizations to continuously enhance processes and procedures.
• Problem-solving – PDCA assists organizations in identifying and resolving problems through a structured approach.
• Team involvement – PDCA promotes teamwork and collaboration, allowing employees from different departments and levels to work together towards a common goal.
• Effective communication – PDCA encourages effective communication between team members, allowing the sharing of information, ideas, and feedback.
• Increased customer satisfaction – PDCA can impact customer satisfaction by ensuring that processes are regularly reviewed and improved to meet customer needs.
• Increased efficiency – PDCA can lead to increased efficiency as processes are structured, streamlined, and improved over time. 

The benefits of the PDCA cycle have been recorded even in many big organizations . For example, the implementation of the PDCA cycle with other quality management methodologies has helped Nike double its size from US $100 billion in 2015 to over US $200 billion in 2021. Furthermore, other organizations, such as The Mayo Clinic and Nestle, have benefited from these approaches and have increased their efficiency. 

Tips and Best Practices for Implementing the PDCA Cycle

Implementing the PDCA cycle can be a valuable tool for continuous improvement in organizations. Here are some tips and best practices to consider when implementing the PDCA cycle:

• Define the process – Clearly define the process being improved, its steps, and what the desired outcomes are.
• Establish metrics – Define metrics to measure the success of the process improvement.
• Plan and prepare – Develop a plan for implementing the process improvement, including any necessary resources and timeline.
• Implement and observe – Implement the process improvement, observe, document any changes, and collect data to measure the impact.
• Evaluate results – Evaluate the results of the process improvement and make necessary adjustments.
• Continuously improve – Continuously repeat the PDCA cycle, using the lessons learned from each cycle to drive ongoing improvement. 
• Involve the right people and build a culture of continuous improvement – Choose competent employees and teams and involve them directly in the process being improved.
• Communication and training – Ensure that all stakeholders are involved and aware of the PDCA cycle and their role in it. Provide training and support to help employees understand the process and how they can contribute to it.
• Celebrate success – Celebrate successes and share the results of the PDCA cycle with employees and stakeholders to encourage ongoing improvement efforts.

PDCA Cycle and ISO 9001 Quality Management

The PDCA cycle and ISO 9001 are closely related, as the PDCA cycle is a key component of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) standard. ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management, which requires organizations to implement and maintain a QMS to continuously improve their processes and products.

The PDCA cycle aligns with the overall structure and objectives of ISO 9001, as it helps organizations to systematically identify and address issues in their processes, track and measure their performance, and continuously improve their QMS. The PDCA cycle can be used as a tool to support and enhance an organization's efforts to achieve and maintain ISO 9001 certification.

The PDCA cycle is also connected and applies to other ISO standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System (ISMS) , ISO 14001 Environmental Management , ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System , and ISO 13485 Medical Devices Quality Management System . 

About the Author

Vlerë Hyseni is the Digital Content Officer at PECB. She is in charge of doing research, creating, and developing digital content for a variety of industries. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact her at: [email protected] .

• Quality Management System
• Health, Safety, and Environment
• Continuity, Resilience, and Service Management
• Information Security Management
• Risk and Management
• IT Security
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance
• Transportation, Telecom, and Energy
• Cybersecurity
• Sustainability
• Privacy and Data Protection
• Digital Transformation

Latest Articles

Seven core subjects covered by iso 26000.

A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Role of ISO/IEC 42001

Data Protection Challenges

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Training & Certification

• Ethical Hacking
• Training Course Catalog
• Attributed Territories

Examination

• Exam Rules and Policies
• Online Exam Manual
• Invigilator Guide
• Candidate Handbooks

Certification

• Certification Rules and Policies
• Certification Maintenance
• Certificate Verification
• Master Credentials
• Leadership, Committees and Advisory Boards
• PECB Code of Ethics
• Affiliations

Terms, Conditions, and Policies | Privacy Statement | Cookie Preferences

© 2024 Professional Evaluation and Certification Board. All rights reserved.

• Business & Money
• Management & Leadership

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Return this item for free

Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select the return method

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Quality Management Systems A guide to ISO 9001: 2015 Implementation and Problem Solving: Revised - 2nd edition June 2018 Paperback – Illustrated, January 11, 2019

Purchase options and add-ons.

The recent issue of the revised International Standard has introduced new thinking into the text of the document. Companies that are embarking on accreditation for the first time should embrace these requirements as they design their Quality Management Systems. Companies that have already achieved the 2008 version have until September 2018 to convert their systems to the 2015 version of ISO 9001.

New companies 'coming on board' after this date should use this document to assist in their application of systems and documents.

This handbook will guide you through the various paragraphs of the standard and offer my interpretation of models and templates to work with and to embed into your new Quality Management System. If you have an integrated system with the Environmental Standard (ISO 14001) there is some read-across to interpretation, but this handbook does not address all the Environmental considerations.

• Print length 92 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Purple Parrot Publishing
• Publication date January 11, 2019
• Dimensions 8.27 x 0.25 x 11.69 inches
• ISBN-10 1912677016
• ISBN-13 978-1912677016
• See all details

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Purple Parrot Publishing; Illustrated edition (January 11, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 92 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1912677016
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1912677016
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.27 x 0.25 x 11.69 inches
• #1,218 in Financial Auditing (Books)
• #2,367 in Quality Control (Books)

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

Top reviews from other countries.

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

Master the 8D method of problem-solving

Related Articles

The 8d method was originally the brainchild of the ford motor company. the concept was developed in the 1980s and was initially given the moniker tops (team oriented problem solving) due to its emphasis on a team approach..

This approach proved to be incredibly effective, and the process has now been adopted by other companies to root out their own problems. Now known as Global 8D, the method is ideally suited to manufacturers, but it’s also been effectively used in healthcare, retail, finance and government sectors.

What is the 8D problem-solving method?

‘8D’ stands for the eight disciplines of problem-solving. Each discipline of the tool supports businesses in finding the root cause of a non-conformity and implementing a permanent solution. This detailed and disciplined approach makes it a valuable method for boosting quality and reliability within your business.

Its methodology also puts a great deal of emphasis on what is referred to as the problem-solving team. By bringing different people together, you can take advantage of their diverse experience as well as rapidly develop their individual problem-solving skills.

Other benefits include:

• Greater problem-solving efficiency
• The discovery of any necessary systemic changes
• The creation of a document trail and database outlining non-conformities and their solutions
• Better understanding of non-conformities within the business and their solutions

How do I use the 8D method?

To help you through your problem-solving journey, here is a step-by-step guide through the eight dimensions.

0D: Planning

This stage is not an official part of the eight-step process, but it remains crucial for the method to work.

Before you begin to problem-solve, you need a plan of action. Start gathering evidence on the issue, whether it is a series of customer complaints, a defective product or a process that was not carried out correctly. This will help you decide upon your team and will kick-start the investigation.

1D: Find a team

Now you have an idea of the issue, it’s time to assemble your team.

Try to choose people from different departments within the business but remember to include those who are familiar with the processes linked to the non-conformity/issue. This team can shift as your investigations continue, so be prepared to call in other expertise as you learn more about the events leading up to the issue.

To keep things moving, make sure a leader is elected. Ideally, they should be someone who is familiar with the 8D process.

2D: Problem identification

At this stage you need to set down a description of the problem. This should be fact-based and focused on information taken from business data. By doing this, you can narrow down the issue and start to rule out possible causes of the non-conformity.

To help you create an accurate description, you may like to base it on the 5W2H methodology (who, what, where, when, how and how much?).

3D: Temporary correction

Now that you have a good idea of what the problem is, you may need to put a temporary corrective action in place.

This won’t resolve the root cause of the issue, but it will help to protect your customer from receiving bad products or service from your business.

Interim measures could include stopping production or replacing defective parts, for example.

4D: Root cause analysis

We’re now getting to the business end of this process. At this stage, you can begin to identify the root causes of the non-conformity and verify them using facts gleaned from your data collection.

To help you identify the true cause of the problem, take advantage of other problem-solving techniques, such as the five whys.

The five ways is a very straightforward technique in which you ask the question ‘why’ for every answer you generate.

Here’s an example:

How to use the five whys

Problem: Water spillage in the factory.

1.  First why: The water spillage occurred because the factory pipeline was leaking.

2.  Second why: The factory pipeline leaked because it was damaged.

3.  Third why: The factory pipeline was damaged due to poor maintenance.

4.  Fourth why: The pipeline was poorly maintained because it wasn’t checked regularly.

5.  Fifth why: It wasn’t checked regularly because there isn’t a maintenance schedule for the pipelines.

Root cause: A missing maintenance schedule

Other techniques include the fishbone diagram, which is illustrated below. In this example, the non-conformity was a late delivery. If using the fishbone method, you won’t necessarily fill every section – it will depend on the type and scale of problem you are investigating.

You may also like to walk through your business’ processes to discover the exact location of the root cause. In this case, a process flow diagram may be useful. This is essentially a flowchart that illustrates the relationship between major components.

5D: Permanent correction

Once you are happy that you have found the root cause of your issue, it is time to put together a permanent corrective action. This action will replace the temporary measures you put in place.

In the case of the factory water spillage, the permanent corrective action will be to create a new maintenance schedule to prevent excessive damage.

When you have a plan of what to do, you need to establish its probable effectiveness before you put it into action. Simulations or tools such as Accelerated Life Testing (ALT) can be handy for this. ALT is useful in manufacturing as it tests a product by subjecting it to extreme conditions. Once you’re satisfied that you have found the right solution, it’s time to move to the next stage.

6D: Implementation

It’s now time to implement your chosen permanent corrective action.

To implement it correctly, you need to create a project plan that covers communication to the relevant work teams and overseers as well as the steps to completion. Make sure you also decide how you will measure your success.

7D: Prevention

This stage is dedicated to making sure you prevent the non-conformity from reoccurring.

For example, in the case of the water spillage from the pipeline, the preventative action will be to communicate the new maintenance checks to the relevant team and to issue training on how to check the pipes.

Sharing your knowledge and the lessons learned during the fact-finding process is also key. Make sure the problem and its resolution are communicated to the rest of the business and update documents and your ISO processes.

You may also like to take a look at related products or procedures to see if similar problems are occurring in different parts of the business.

8D: Feedback

The last discipline is dedicated to rewarding your problem-solving team and recognising their efforts. Feed back on their performance and highlight any areas for improvement – this will help them to develop their problem-solving skills and tighten up the process during the next investigation. Once that’s done, it’s time to celebrate!

Need some extra support?

Running a management system and playing detective when it comes to non-conformities can be quite challenging when you’re juggling other business needs.

For more support or guidance, you can reach our team of experts by calling 0333 344 3646 or emailing [email protected] .

Sign up to get the latest in your inbox

• Email address

About the author

Claire Price

Content Marketing Executive

Claire worked for Citation ISO Certification between 2020 and 2022 writing creative and informative content on ISO certification and consultation to help businesses reach their potential.

Looking for some guidance? Join us for one of our upcoming seminars!

QMS International use cookies to provide you with a better site experience, enable features and to help us understand how our website is being used.

By continuing, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy

Allow All Cookies

Allow Strictly Necessary Cookies Only

Please Wait...

Watch CBS News

Teens come up with trigonometry proof for Pythagorean Theorem, a problem that stumped math world for centuries

By Bill Whitaker

May 5, 2024 / 7:00 PM EDT / CBS News

As the school year ends, many students will be only too happy to see math classes in their rearview mirrors. It may seem to some of us non-mathematicians that geometry and trigonometry were created by the Greeks as a form of torture, so imagine our amazement when we heard two high school seniors had proved a mathematical puzzle that was thought to be impossible for 2,000 years. 

We met Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson at their all-girls Catholic high school in New Orleans. We expected to find two mathematical prodigies.

Instead, we found at St. Mary's Academy , all students are told their possibilities are boundless.

Come Mardi Gras season, New Orleans is alive with colorful parades, replete with floats, and beads, and high school marching bands.

In a city where uniqueness is celebrated, St. Mary's stands out – with young African American women playing trombones and tubas, twirling batons and dancing - doing it all, which defines St. Mary's, students told us.

Junior Christina Blazio says the school instills in them they have the ability to accomplish anything. 

Christina Blazio: That is kinda a standard here. So we aim very high - like, our aim is excellence for all students. 

The private Catholic elementary and high school sits behind the Sisters of the Holy Family Convent in New Orleans East. The academy was started by an African American nun for young Black women just after the Civil War. The church still supports the school with the help of alumni.

In December 2022, seniors Ne'Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson were working on a school-wide math contest that came with a cash prize.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: I was motivated because there was a monetary incentive.

Calcea Johnson: 'Cause I was like, "$500 is a lot of money. So I-- I would like to at least try."

Both were staring down the thorny bonus question.

Bill Whitaker: So tell me, what was this bonus question?

Calcea Johnson: It was to create a new proof of the Pythagorean Theorem. And it kind of gave you a few guidelines on how would you start a proof.

The seniors were familiar with the Pythagorean Theorem, a fundamental principle of geometry. You may remember it from high school: a² + b² = c². In plain English, when you know the length of two sides of a right triangle, you can figure out the length of the third.

Both had studied geometry and some trigonometry, and both told us math was not easy. What no one told  them  was there had been more than 300 documented proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem using algebra and geometry, but for 2,000 years a proof using trigonometry was thought to be impossible, … and that was the bonus question facing them.

Bill Whitaker: When you looked at the question did you think, "Boy, this is hard"?

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Yeah. 

Bill Whitaker: What motivated you to say, "Well, I'm going to try this"?

Calcea Johnson: I think I was like, "I started something. I need to finish it." 

Bill Whitaker: So you just kept on going.

Calcea Johnson: Yeah.

For two months that winter, they spent almost all their free time working on the proof.

CeCe Johnson: She was like, "Mom, this is a little bit too much."

CeCe and Cal Johnson are Calcea's parents.

CeCe Johnson:   So then I started looking at what she really was doing. And it was pages and pages and pages of, like, over 20 or 30 pages for this one problem.

Cal Johnson: Yeah, the garbage can was full of papers, which she would, you know, work out the problems and-- if that didn't work she would ball it up, throw it in the trash. 

Bill Whitaker: Did you look at the problem? 

Neliska Jackson is Ne'Kiya's mother.

Neliska Jackson: Personally I did not. 'Cause most of the time I don't understand what she's doing (laughter).

Michelle Blouin Williams: What if we did this, what if I write this? Does this help? ax² plus ….

Their math teacher, Michelle Blouin Williams, initiated the math contest.

Bill Whitaker: And did you think anyone would solve it?

Michelle Blouin Williams: Well, I wasn't necessarily looking for a solve. So, no, I didn't—

Bill Whitaker: What were you looking for?

Michelle Blouin Williams: I was just looking for some ingenuity, you know—

Calcea and Ne'Kiya delivered on that! They tried to explain their groundbreaking work to 60 Minutes. Calcea's proof is appropriately titled the Waffle Cone.

Calcea Johnson: So to start the proof, we start with just a regular right triangle where the angle in the corner is 90°. And the two angles are alpha and beta.

Bill Whitaker: Uh-huh

Calcea Johnson: So then what we do next is we draw a second congruent, which means they're equal in size. But then we start creating similar but smaller right triangles going in a pattern like this. And then it continues for infinity. And eventually it creates this larger waffle cone shape.

Calcea Johnson: Am I going a little too—

Bill Whitaker: You've been beyond me since the beginning. (laughter) 

Bill Whitaker: So how did you figure out the proof?

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Okay. So you have a right triangle, 90° angle, alpha and beta.

Bill Whitaker: Then what did you do?

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Okay, I have a right triangle inside of the circle. And I have a perpendicular bisector at OP to divide the triangle to make that small right triangle. And that's basically what I used for the proof. That's the proof.

Bill Whitaker: That's what I call amazing.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Well, thank you.

There had been one other documented proof of the theorem using trigonometry by mathematician Jason Zimba in 2009 – one in 2,000 years. Now it seems Ne'Kiya and Calcea have joined perhaps the most exclusive club in mathematics. 

Bill Whitaker: So you both independently came up with proof that only used trigonometry.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Yes.

Bill Whitaker: So are you math geniuses?

Calcea Johnson: I think that's a stretch. 

Bill Whitaker: If not genius, you're really smart at math.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Not at all. (laugh) 

To document Calcea and Ne'Kiya's work, math teachers at St. Mary's submitted their proofs to an American Mathematical Society conference in Atlanta in March 2023.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Well, our teacher approached us and was like, "Hey, you might be able to actually present this," I was like, "Are you joking?" But she wasn't. So we went. I got up there. We presented and it went well, and it blew up.

Bill Whitaker: It blew up.

Calcea Johnson: Yeah. 

Ne'Kiya Jackson: It blew up.

Bill Whitaker: Yeah. What was the blowup like?

Calcea Johnson: Insane, unexpected, crazy, honestly.

It took millenia to prove, but just a minute for word of their accomplishment to go around the world. They got a write-up in South Korea and a shout-out from former first lady Michelle Obama, a commendation from the governor and keys to the city of New Orleans. 

Bill Whitaker: Why do you think so many people found what you did to be so impressive?

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Probably because we're African American, one. And we're also women. So I think-- oh, and our age. Of course our ages probably played a big part.

Bill Whitaker: So you think people were surprised that young African American women, could do such a thing?

Calcea Johnson: Yeah, definitely.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: I'd like to actually be celebrated for what it is. Like, it's a great mathematical achievement.

Achievement, that's a word you hear often around St. Mary's academy. Calcea and Ne'Kiya follow a long line of barrier-breaking graduates. 

The late queen of Creole cooking, Leah Chase , was an alum. so was the first African-American female New Orleans police chief, Michelle Woodfork …

And judge for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Dana Douglas. Math teacher Michelle Blouin Williams told us Calcea and Ne'Kiya are typical St. Mary's students.  

Bill Whitaker: They're not unicorns.

Michelle Blouin Williams: Oh, no no. If they are unicorns, then every single lady that has matriculated through this school is a beautiful, Black unicorn.

Pamela Rogers: You're good?

Pamela Rogers, St. Mary's president and interim principal, told us the students hear that message from the moment they walk in the door.

Pamela Rogers: We believe all students can succeed, all students can learn. It does not matter the environment that you live in. 

Bill Whitaker: So when word went out that two of your students had solved this almost impossible math problem, were they universally applauded?

Pamela Rogers: In this community, they were greatly applauded. Across the country, there were many naysayers.

Bill Whitaker: What were they saying?

Pamela Rogers: They were saying, "Oh, they could not have done it. African Americans don't have the brains to do it." Of course, we sheltered our girls from that. But we absolutely did not expect it to come in the volume that it came.  

Bill Whitaker: And after such a wonderful achievement.

Pamela Rogers: People-- have a vision of who can be successful. And-- to some people, it is not always an African American female. And to us, it's always an African American female.

Gloria Ladson-Billings: What we know is when teachers lay out some expectations that say, "You can do this," kids will work as hard as they can to do it.

Gloria Ladson-Billings, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin, has studied how best to teach African American students. She told us an encouraging teacher can change a life.

Bill Whitaker: And what's the difference, say, between having a teacher like that and a whole school dedicated to the excellence of these students?

Gloria Ladson-Billings: So a whole school is almost like being in Heaven. 

Bill Whitaker: What do you mean by that?

Gloria Ladson-Billings: Many of our young people have their ceilings lowered, that somewhere around fourth or fifth grade, their thoughts are, "I'm not going to be anything special." What I think is probably happening at St. Mary's is young women come in as, perhaps, ninth graders and are told, "Here's what we expect to happen. And here's how we're going to help you get there."

At St. Mary's, half the students get scholarships, subsidized by fundraising to defray the $8,000 a year tuition. Here, there's no test to get in, but expectations are high and rules are strict: no cellphones, modest skirts, hair must be its natural color.

Students Rayah Siddiq, Summer Forde, Carissa Washington, Tatum Williams and Christina Blazio told us they appreciate the rules and rigor.

Rayah Siddiq: Especially the standards that they set for us. They're very high. And I don't think that's ever going to change.

Bill Whitaker: So is there a heart, a philosophy, an essence to St. Mary's?

Summer Forde: The sisterhood—

Carissa Washington: Sisterhood.

Tatum Williams: Sisterhood.

Bill Whitaker: The sisterhood?

Voices: Yes.

Bill Whitaker: And you don't mean the nuns. You mean-- (laughter)

Christina Blazio: I mean, yeah. The community—

Bill Whitaker: So when you're here, there's just no question that you're going to go on to college.

Rayah Siddiq: College is all they talk about. (laughter) 

Pamela Rogers: … and Arizona State University (Cheering)

Principal Rogers announces to her 615 students the colleges where every senior has been accepted.

Bill Whitaker: So for 17 years, you've had a 100% graduation rate—

Pamela Rogers: Yes.

Bill Whitaker: --and a 100% college acceptance rate?

Pamela Rogers: That's correct.

Last year when Ne'Kiya and Calcea graduated, all their classmates went to college and got scholarships. Ne'Kiya got a full ride to the pharmacy school at Xavier University in New Orleans. Calcea, the class valedictorian, is studying environmental engineering at Louisiana State University.

Bill Whitaker: So wait a minute. Neither one of you is going to pursue a career in math?

Both: No. (laugh)

Calcea Johnson: I may take up a minor in math. But I don't want that to be my job job.

Ne'Kiya Jackson: Yeah. People might expect too much out of me if (laugh) I become a mathematician. (laugh)

But math is not completely in their rear-view mirrors. This spring they submitted their high school proofs for final peer review and publication … and are still working on further proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem. Since their first two …

Calcea Johnson: We found five. And then we found a general format that could potentially produce at least five additional proofs.

Bill Whitaker: And you're not math geniuses?

Bill Whitaker: I'm not buying it. (laughs)

Produced by Sara Kuzmarov. Associate producer, Mariah B. Campbell. Edited by Daniel J. Glucksman.

Bill Whitaker is an award-winning journalist and 60 Minutes correspondent who has covered major news stories, domestically and across the globe, for more than four decades with CBS News.

More from CBS News

Israel preparing for Rafah invasion in Gaza amid increasing tension with U.S.

60 Minutes Archive: Coverage of North Korea

How much does it cost to file for bankruptcy?

As a Social Security cut looms, should seniors buy long-term care insurance now?

• 1-877-942-6572

Looking to Integrate 9001+14001+27001+45001+50001? Click here!

The Great CAPA Balancing Act: Knowing How And When To Act

Many have written about companies that lack the resolve to fix a problem, even long after it is identified. But there are also reports of countless resources which are wasted by fixing problems that probably didn’t need fixing or justify the effort. Balancing these requires a blend of front end categorizations that help all employees known when action is needed, starting with these key questions:

• How often is the problem likely to occur? (Frequency)
• How important is it likely to be? (Importance)
• Has this issue been addressed before? (Re-Occurrence)
• Are we really being open minded? (Evaluate Options)
• Did we really solve the problem? (Verification)

We’ll look at each of these in more detail.

It may be as difficult to predict the re-occurrence of a problem as the first occurrence of it. And yet, if there is at least an attempt to measure and scale this, a perspective can often be reached. This is particularly true if measurements exist that can compare that state of something. Poor inventory control can be a function of fluctuating customer demand, which may seem not to be controlled. But many vendors find ways to better predict a customer’s needs than they do. Starting with a simple scale of how frequently this issue is likely to occur can help determine the resources that need to be applied.

Free Download ISO 9001 Corrective/Preventive Action Guide

For a limited time we’re giving our CAPA Process Guide away free. This is a time-tested outline for developing or improving your corrective action/preventative action approach (CAPA).

For instance, the guide helps you develop each phase of the process including:

• Record Potential or Actual Non-conformance
• Assign and Manage Request
• Investigate Root Cause
• Design Corrective Action
• Implement Corrective Action
• Follow-Up on Corrective Action to Assure Effectiveness

As far as importance, a higher level perspective can help decide the total impact of the problem. While not a guarantee, views from varying groups that are likely to be affected can help put the situation into perspective. The person(s) observing a potential or actual non-conformance initiates the process (often is called the “Requestor”) provides critical aid in this process in describing the problem. Having a CAPA administrator is also crucial to review and then request the appropriate people in the organization to assure the necessary action is taken in a timely manner.

Re-Occurrence

Maintaining a “lessons learned” database of some type can at least help with those problems that seemed to recur. Providing easy and ubiquitous access and encouraging/requiring appropriate logs are necessary actions for making this database useful in the CAPA process.

Evaluate Options

And yet, there are times when new people, technologies, production and market conditions conspire to hide solutions. In this case, a more open and interrogative style of inquiry is often needed. Being good investigators with the proper methods can lead more quickly to results in these situations than past experience with its preconceived notions (that may not have detected or fixed the problem in the first place)

Verification

And finally, verifying what actions were taken and what effects they had will help ensure that the problem won’t repeat (if it had – for instance- temporarily righted itself). Many times people think they have done what was asked/required only to move on a bit too quickly to the next issue without fully/correctly completing the needed actions.

In summary, no one can predict the future with 100% accuracy, and yet what CAPA teaches is that we can command our destiny to a great extent. Those who put effort into it are much less likely to repeat/experience unwanted past, or unpredictable future events.

MAKE ISO 9001 REGISTRATION SIMPLE AND FOOLPROOF!

Buy the Standard

Where in the Process

• Prepare your Organization
• Gap Analysis
• Project Plan
• Documentation
• Use and Improve QMS
• Internal Audits
• ISO Registration

Customer Review: " I have just passed my ISO-9001 Audit with zero non-conformances for the second year in a row using your ISO products to write my entire QMS. T hank you for producing documents of this quality " Bettye Patrick United Plating, Inc

Privacy Overview

AFL 2024: St Kilda focused on ‘problem-solving’ after Ross Lyon outburst

A St Kilda star says it’s on the Saints’ senior players to lift as he addressed Ross Lyon’s unusual post-game comments on Saturday.

‘Lost the hunger’: Dusty at a crossroads

Pies fan in huge strife after grabbing player

Indigenous players call for change amid decline

St Kilda star Bradley Hill says he wants to finish his career at Moorabbin and still sees promise in the Saints’ list as “stagnant” ball movement hampers them on the field.

Hill said his side’s on-field issues were as much the players’ fault as coach Ross Lyon’s as the Saints slumped to 14th place with a 3-6 record after losing to Hawthorn in Launceston.

Lyon hit out after the game at AFL restrictions on runners which he claimed had made coaches “like neutered dogs” when games were on the line, but Hill said it was also on senior players to spread messages and identify problems to be solved on the field.

“I feel like Ross is taking a lot of that blame … us as players definitely should have a bit more of a role there, especially as older players,” he said.

“We need to be better as players out there. We need to be able to know what’s going wrong and being able to fix it.

“I think just our ball movement and stuff has been a little bit frustrating and a little bit stagnant – it’s not the way we want to play.”

Hill, who was previously linked with a trade to a fourth club late in the 2022 season but stayed on at St Kilda, said he was on the brink of signing a new deal to remain at the club and had no interest in moving elsewhere.

“I think it’s just getting it all signed off and whatnot, talking my manager to get all his stuff (done), but on my end I just (want) to get it all ticked off and approved,” he said.

“I don’t want to go anywhere else. I’ve probably had a few clubs already … I’m loving it at St Kilda, I think we’ve got a bright future. There’s a lot of young talent coming through and I’m pretty excited to see where the club can go.”

The Saints wingman enjoyed posing for photos with his cousin, Collingwood’s Bobby Hill, at the MCG launch of Sir Doug Nicholls Round on Monday.

“It keeps on growing every year and it’s a special round for us. It’s awesome that it goes over two rounds, you get the home game and away game which is pretty awesome, all us boys love it,” he said.

“Non-Indigenous people can sort of learn a little bit about our history and our story – it’s a great round and one of the ones I always look forward to.”

Yet to win a game this season and with his production well down, Dustin Martin’s AFL career appears to be hanging by a thread.

The AFL is investigating after a Collingwood fan grabbed West Coast youngster Harvey Johnston at Marvel Stadium.

AFL players have put their ideas forward on how the league should address dropping Indigenous participation at the elite level.

• lol Badge Feed
• win Badge Feed
• trending Badge Feed

Browse links

• © 2024 BuzzFeed, Inc
• Consent Preferences
• Accessibility Statement

Beauty + Personal Care

Sports + Fitness

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

29 Problem-Solving Products With Before And After Pics That'll Convince You To Buy 'Em

The before and after pics of the stain and odor eliminator pics have been in my nightmares for three nights in a row.

BuzzFeed Staff

1. A nail renewal formula  to help improve the appearance of that one discolored toe that you banged extra hard on the cabinet corner and has looked a bit frightening ever since. Been there, done that, wish I would have known about this. 

This stuff will hydrate and exfoliate any brittle, damaged nails, help improve the appearance, anddddd reduce discoloration and thickness leaving you with some dramatic results. IDK about you, but I'm totally here for the drama in this case.

Promising review : “I tried EVERYTHING! I tried tree tea oil for years and various different products. Nothing worked. The reviews were so great on this that I decided to try to cure it one more time. But when you have had a condition for 35 years, you aren’t too hopeful! I followed the suggestions of some of the reviewers and cut my toenails (I only had it on my big toes) everywhere that the fungus was present. I started applying this gel, which is super easy to use. I swear to you that I noticed a difference after one application. ” — WIAPilot  

Get it from Amazon for  $16.02+  (also available with a nail file).

2. A  piercing bump solution  so you can help stop that little bump on your nose piercing that's tripled in size in two weeks from growing annnnyyyy more. Before you totally ditch your new piercing, let this stuff help heal and reduce the size of your keloid! I know, I know, I get 'em too and yes, they can be terrifying to look at. 

This product does not promise to work overnight. Apply this daily 2–3 times a day as long as needed. Be sure to be patient as the healing process takes time!

Talk to your doctor before attempting to treat your keloid on your own, and learn more about keloids from  Cleveland Clinic .

Oh! BTW, I bought this. Last year I got a dermal piercing on my chest and since literally just about every piercing I've ever gotten has grown a keloid on it, I should have known my dermal would eventually, too. I got the piercing in February of 2023 and around May I noticed a nasty, stubborn little bump making a guest appearance on my piercing. 🙄 I had written about this stuff a few times so the light bulb went off and I immediately bought it. I consistently used it twice a day and it gradually disappeared, literally like magic within a month. Keloids are a serious nightmare and I'm so glad that I found this stuff. I even *accidentally* ripped it out in November and immediately grabbed this to prevent a keloid from forming cuz I just knew it'd get infected. To my surprise, no keloid, nada. You do have to be patient and consistent, this is NOT an overnight miracle but it's worth it. I also suggest that you continue to use it for like another week or two even after your keloid goes away juuust in case it tries to sneak back into your life. I haven't had issues with my piercing since and no more have grown. 

Get it from Amazon for $12.85+  (also available in a multipack).

3. A stain and odor eliminator  for those unfortunate times where your furry friend uh...goes...on your carpet — talk about scary. Works anywhere stains happen! This year, we are NOT spending hours trying to get the awful smell of cat pee out of our carpets — this'll do the trick without all the hard work. 

Check out why this TikToker loves this stuff here .

Promising review: "Initially, I bought this because I’m potty training a puppy and it’s not going great. This product really worked well on my carpets for the dog messes ! However, I’m writing this review because my jerk cat decided one evening that my new comforter was a great potty spot. Thankfully I noticed the mess immediately so I was able to get this product on it immediately as well. I did let it sit overnight to really penetrate the stuffing even tho that isn't in the directions. I was certain the comforter was a goner. I tossed it in the wash the next morning and I am BLOWN AWAY by the lack of smell or stain . Cat urine is so stubborn and it can easily feel overwhelming when trying to eliminate the smell but this product 100% has my support . I’m buying more the second I’m done with this review . I love it." — lexi

Get it from Amazon for  $19.16+  (available in two sizes).

4. A bottle of professional-grade  callus-removing gel  that'll quickly remove all those calluses. Holy guacamole, these results! Mind-blowing and nightmarish. 

Just presoak your feet, apply the gel, let sit for 5–10 minutes, and rinse! It's recommended you go back in afterward with a foot file just to make sure no residue or dead skin is left behind.

Want to know more? Check out our full Lee Beauty Callus Remover write-up !

Promising review: "I have the driest heels and this is the ONLY product that has ever worked . Before I used this, my heels had some pretty deep cracks and now they're almost baby soft again . BUT please follow the directions... left it on my super-dry thick-callused heels for only three minutes and the calluses were literally melting off ! Wonderful product! So glad I don't have to go soak my feet in those tubs at the nail salon anymore." — Kiki

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 .

5. And a stainless-steel foot file so you can scrape off any dry, cracked skin, leaving you with salon-quality pedicure feet at home. If you've ever wanted to sell feet pics, here's your sign. But warning, the amount of dead skin that comes off your tootsies will look like the pile of Parmesan cheese you ask for on top of your pasta at Olive Garden. Andddd now I've probably ruined that for you.

Promising review: "OMFreakinG!!! I just received this foot file today and I'm officially a believer!!! I hate the thought of anyone touching my feet, so I have been trying to find something to do pedicures by myself and nothing worked well. I was scrolling Facebook and came across a post about Amazon's top-rated products. When I saw this, I was skeptical but thought I would try it out and I'm so glad I did. This file got my feet baby smooth within minutes with such ease after months of built-up dead skin.  With this on the market, I don't know why anybody would want to go spend a ton of money at a nail salon." — Tasha P.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99  (available in five colors and a two-pack).

6. A three-piece  drill brush cleaning kit  you can attach to a drill for some serious scrubbin'. Danny Tanner would have a field day. Your back will thank you, your bathroom surfaces will sparkle, and you will be so thankful cleaning took half the time it usually does.  

The kit includes a 2-inch scrub brush, a 4-inch diameter flat brush, and a power scrubber brush. If you need a drill,  here's a good Black & Decker one . 

Drill Brush is a New York-based small biz.

Oh! And each color of the Drill Brush attachments corresponds to the type of bristles they have, and each one is for a specific type of cleaning job (like the  yellow  brush has medium bristles, best used for bathroom cleaning — bathtubs, showers, tile, and porcelain). Make sure to check the listing for which color is best for what you wanna clean.

Promising reviews: "So I kept seeing this item on TikTok and thought, 'Heck, why not?' I love this item for deep cleaning , whether it's car mats, shoes, or the shower." — A. givens

"My shower has never been this clean! I have tried so many scrubbers, been sore from trying to remove soap scum, and just left disappointed. This product was easy to use and cleaned dirt I didn’t even know was dirt in my shower! " — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $18.95  (available in six colors/bristle types). 

7. A stainless-steel tongue scraper that'll have you saying *oh so that's what strawberries taste like.* It can be adjusted to your mouth and help maintain better oral hygiene. Your breath will smell fresher, your mouth will feel cleaner, and your tongue will be as pink as Patrick Star. 

Dr.Tung's is a US-based small biz that specializes in oral care products. 

Promising review: "I had a tool similar to this years ago but it was plastic and shaped a little differently and I just didn’t see much results so I didn’t stick with using it. But this tongue scraper is by far above and beyond anything I have used in the past. The immediate results were disgusting, which in this case is a good thing ;-). I’m very happy with the quality of product and the way in which this handy little tool performs. An added plus is the cute travel bag which comes with your purchase. Solid purchase!" — Lyra18

Get it from Amazon for $6  (also available in multipacks).

8. A bottle of nail and cuticle care oil you apply like a clear coat of polish to help keep your nails strong and your cuticles soft. With this oil, your nails will still look like you got a fresh mani. Plus, you'll have fewer moments of mindlessly peeling your hangnails then screaming in terror because they hurt. 

Promising review:  "Found it on TikTok and I’m so pleased with the results. My nails are getting stronger and growing. And the best of all, not chipping. Love it." — sidna saavedra

Get it from Amazon for $7.92+  (available in three sizes).

9. A cutlery drawer organizer to organize all your utensils andddd give you more space since the lack thereof is starting to frighten you. You can fit 24 utensils in just one of these and since the compartments are stacked, you may even have room in your drawer for a second one or just more space for spatulas and such. 

Promising review:  "TikTok has done it again and made me spend money on unnecessary things. However, it was definitely worth it!  I love the durability and space it saved me.  Compared to larger and bulkier flatware organizers. Hands down, good purchase!" — Sierra

Get it from Amazon for $9.60 .

10. A jar of the TikTok-famous  Pink Stuff  that's totally worth ALL the hype. Your jaw will be on the floor once you see what this cleaner can do. This paste plays no games when it's time to get tidy.

Promising review: "I was heartbroken when I saw that my daughters had written on the dresser with Sharpie! I tried so many different chemicals and nothing worked! I found this on TikTok and said 'Welp let me try my luck and see if it really works!' And let me tell you I am still shocked at how amazing this product works!!!! Yayyyy, I'm so soo soo happy to see my dresser white again!!!! 😭😭😭 Thank youuuu!!!!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS IN THE HOUSE!!!! " — Gabriela Portillo Solorio

Get it from Amazon for $4.99+  (available in multipacks).

11. And  The Pink Stuff's Miracle Multipurpose Cleaner Spray  for large surface areas like counters, walls, bathtubs, and floors. Marker on the wall from your kid? No match for this stuff. 

Promising review: "Glad I found this product on TikTok. Does 95%–100% of the job in seconds ! Definitely worth the money." — Mother of 4

Get it from Amazon for $4.99  (also available in a multipack).

12. A cruelty-free pet ear cleanser that'll gently (but effectively) clean your furry friend's ears and help make ear cleaning time a little easier on both you and the fur babe. Just fill the ear canal, gently massage it in, gently remove debris with a cotton ball, and boom — clean, fresh ears.

Promising review: "I have rescue poodles and any poodle owner can tell you about cleaning poodle ears. It's...nasty. But when you add years of neglect on top of already prone-to-funk ears it is just terrible. Infections, pain, and stressful cleanings were part of our lives until I tried this stuff . I have no idea how it works but it's MAGICAL. You squirt it in, smoosh it around, and the ick just starts wiping right off. It somehow fixes the sticky and stinky ear goop and makes cleaning ears as easy as rubbing them out with a cotton pad. It's gentle on the skin and hair while breaking up the funk.  I wish I'd found this years ago." — Jenae

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 .

13. A pack of  Keurig cleaner pods you can simply put through a cycle on the machine to get rid of all the gross crud and built-up coffee grinds in there. The first time cleaning might take a few extra pods, BUT use them weekly and your Keurig will be easier to clean. You'd be surprised how much better your coffee tastes after your Keurig is clean as new! 

Promising review:  "I had no idea that cleaning a Keurig was a thing. I bought these because I saw them on TikTok, believe it or not. I wanted to give it a go because my Keurig isn’t that old and I didn’t think it would do anything.  IT WORKS SO WELL!  My Keurig wasn’t as nasty as some I’ve seen luckily.  I would highly recommend, keeps everything running correctly and clean ." — Lauren

Get it from Amazon for $9.95+  (available in packs of 6, 12, or 18).

14. A  lid organizer  to organize all those Tupperware tops because your current organization system probably makes you wanna scream in terror and shut the cabinet door every time you open it. And don't get me started on trying to find the actual matching container — one word: nightmare. Your cabinet will look soooo much neater and you'll no longer be living in your own horror movie, Tupperware Cabinet Of Terror: Finding The Matching Lids. 

Promising review: " I never knew I needed this until I got it and now I don’t know how I ever lived without it!" — Kelli Belpedio

Get it from Amazon for  $16.99+  (available in four sizes).

15. A  pumice stone  for your toilet so you can ~finally~ get rid of that unattractive ring in the bowl. Keep your throne squeaky clean and looking brand-new! And you can use it on other surfaces like sinks and tubs! 

Promising review:  "TikTok made me buy this. This thing literally scoured away hard-water stains that I have been trying to get rid of for years in less than 30 seconds. 10/10 recommend." — Tleary125

Get it from Amazon for  $10.99+  (available in multipacks).

16. A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair  to help you on those mornings where your kid wakes up with their hair literally everywhere and you've got five minutes to work some sort of magic on their little locks — talk about a scary situation. And this stuff gets the job done without any nasty parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Breakage, buh-bye. Elasticity and bounce, helloooooo! 

Reviewers say this spray will leave wavy or curly hair (from 2a–4c hair) shiny, soft, and bouncy.

Promising review:  " Amazing transformation! Highly recommend!  I went down an Instagram rabbit hole and saw a similar girl show how her frizz was transformed to curls. I ordered this!! My mind has been blown!! This has changed our lives. It smells so good! It is easy to use and air dry. Before my daughter woke up with terrible bed head. Now it is gorgeous soft curls. We will definitely buy again and tell everyone about this product!!" — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $8.26 .

17. A water-based instant Folex carpet spot remover  that could clean up that chili Kevin spilled. No joke. I'm literally floored by these before and after pics. 

Promising review: “I wish I would’ve taken a before and after picture. I had a stain in my carpet that was there from the time we moved in three years ago. I ’ve tried carpet cleaners, various sprays, and even had the carpets professionally cleaned. Nothing touched it. I bought this after seeing it in a TikTok video on a whim, and I’m SO glad I did. Literally all I did was spray, mush it around in the carpet, and pressed in a paper towel. Literal magic. Stain was gone instantly. I used up the entire bottle in less than an hour, going around to all the spots in my home. I don’t know what sorcery and magic is in this, but I cannot recommend enough. 100% repurchasing!" — Davids Mommy

Get it from Amazon for $6.65+  (available in multipacks).

18. A set of Wonder Hangers  because your closet is full, but you can't resist a sale and having to get rid of your clothes is a frightening thought. These things can hold up to 30 pounds and one can hold up to five garments. 😱 I say we grab a pack of these, then celebrate the new space in our closets by buying more clothes. 

Check out a  TikTok of the Wonder Hangers  in action. 

Promising review:  "I love this for my walk-in closet and my obsession with shopping. 😅 Everything was perfect. I ordered a pack of six in white and everything was intact. Yes they are made of plastic, but very durable — I have a lot of heavy formal dresses and it's holding them up very well, shockingly !! I'm ordering more. ❤❤❤" — Taylor M.

Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $13.99+  (available in two colors and in a 24-pack).

19. A bottle of   Sunny & Honey Carpet Miracle that'll help give your carpets the cleaning they have soooo needed. This stuff is tough on dirty carpets and will have 'em looking brand new again no matter how big or old the stains from your kids, pets, or clumsy self (🙋‍♀️). 

This solution works great with Bissell, Hoover, McCulloch, Rug Doctor, Kenmore, and Carpet Express cleaners.

Sunny & Honey  is a family-run small biz that specializes in biodegradable cleaning products.

Promising review:  "Worth every penny. I’ve bought this product so many times now I have it on auto ship! Saw the reviews and figured I’d give it a try. My cat likes to pee over the litter box and stained the brand-new carpet. I used this in my Bissell and it took all the stain and smell out!!! I’ll never use another cleaner. " — Wendy

Get it from Amazon for  $17.99+  (available in two sizes and three scents).

20. An extendable  Baseboard Buddy  to clean molding, your fireplace mantel, and of course, your baseboards. It can reach surfaces both high and low and your back and knees will thank you for ~not~ crouching down, because those are not the same knees you used to use to get low like Lil Jon. 

The kit includes one Baseboard Buddy and three reusable pads that can be used wet or dry. Plus the pads are microfiber and will trap and lock dirt and you won't walk past your dusty baseboards thinking *I'll get to that later* every other day.

Promising review : " Buy it NOW. Honestly, I had huge reservations for this thing. Yet another miracle cleaning tool that will break or bend or something. I was so wrong. It was easy to put together and I sprayed it with Mean Green and went to the baseboards. No more kneeling and no broken back. This thing is amazing. It is durable and the pad is super absorbent. I am so happy. I can't wait to do the rest of the house!" — artgirl

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 . 

21. An overnight tank cleaner  that'll clean your toilet tank without you having to literally do an-y-thing. Throw this in the tank annnnndd that's about it. Couldn't be easier.

Promising review: "According to the instructions I was supposed to use the whole bottle but being that it was so big and that I had two toilets to clean, I only used half. I was pleasantly surprised. The toilet tank is from the 1960s and I doubt it's been cleaned within the last few decades . In the 'after' photo [above] you can see that there is still some rust left over but large chunks fell off the sides and can be seen on the bottom of the tank." — Nicole

Get it from Amazon for $7.60+  (also available in a multipack).

22. A hypoallergenic makeup brush shampoo because your dirty beauty tools have been haunting your dreams like ~wash us, it's been four months~. If you'd literally rather buy new makeup tools than clean them, this minimal-effort shampoo is just as right for you as Baby Bear's chair was for Goldilocks. 

This shampoo formula is cruelty-free and vegan!

Promising review: "After thorough, intensive scrubbing with dish soap, I thought I'd done an OK job on my brushes. FALSE! THIS! This magical, Hogwarts-crafted solution put any soap to shame. Minimal effort, incredible results. I had no idea my brushes could go back to their original color . Best purchase ever." — AC

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $13.98 .

23. A fume-free oven cleaner that's gentle enough that you don't need protective gloves to use it, but tough enough that your oven will be left sparkling. Open your oven and you'll probably hear the angels sing.

Promising review : "I saw this on a TikTok. I have used Easy Off in the past but hated the smell. This is so much better and let me tell you I am super sensitive to smells.  Works great in the oven, and also as I saw on the video works great in shower stalls and tubs!"  — Amy L Viau

Get it from Amazon for $8.98 .

24. A plant-based  cooking oil solidifier because pouring oil down your drain is no bueno and could cause problems in the future. This is a quick, easy way to dispose of that oil you have no clue what to do with. Sprinkle the powder into the leftover oil while it's hot, let it cool, and then throw it out! You'll be terrified once you do see this big, solid glob of oil since you *almost* poured it down the drain — that aftermath would have been scarrrrrrry! 

FryAway is a Latine woman-owned small biz founded by Laura Lady who specializes in planet-friendly ways to dispose of oil. They donate 1% of revenue to nonprofits focused on water conservation.

Promising review: "Honestly I didn’t know if this would work; waiting for it to cool down made me nervous, but once it was at room temperature, it was solid. It popped out of the fryer so nicely. Worth every penny." — Emma

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 .

25. A bleach-free weekly shower spray  that'll clean your shower till it sparkles, but that's not all, friends. This baby also helps prevent future soap scum buildup. Spray it, let it sit for 8–12 hours (so probz spray before bed), then wake up to a totally new shower. 

Promising review: "I got this product about three months ago and haven’t had to scrub my shower since! I just use this every week and rinse it off. It’s life changing!!" — Linds

Get it from Amazon for $20.98+  (available in three sizes and in a two-pack). 

26. A plant-based stainless steel cleaner  to wipe up all those pesky fingerprints on your fridge. And it doesn't stop there — it leaves a protective barrier to help prevent future fingerprints and smudges, keeping your stainless-steel appliances cleaner for longer. 

Check out this TikTok of the Therapy stainless steel cleaning spray working miracles!!

Therapy Clean is a family-owned and operated small biz that specializes in cleaning products to make your home shine.

Promising review : "This is a miracle worker on stainless. I have tried everything to get my stainless to shine like it should, even the home remedies, which do NOT work — sorry but they don't. This stuff is the best I have tried. I follow a girl on TikTok who recommended it and she has been right 100% on her Amazon recommendations. She nailed it again. You will love this stuff." — Amazonwoman

Get it from Amazon for $19.95+  (available in two sizes and in a two-pack).

27. A Bissell multipurpose carpet and upholstery cleaner that parents and pet owners are totally loving. It'll help remove tough stains from grass to mud to pet accidents using warm water and a special formula. That lasagna stain? *Poof* so long lasagna stain! 

Each cleaner comes with a trial size of Bissell's Spot & Stain Formula , which is also available on Amazon for $12.99 ! 

Promising review : "I love this thing. I bought it on a whim after seeing so many TikTok videos about it and can now say I am obsessed with it . As soon as it arrived I wanted to try it out so I started on an old stain on my rug, and imagine my surprise when it instantly came out and   I had tried every cleaning product prior to this. Then I thought I would try my couch and now it looks brand new. Next was my car. I've owned my car for 10 years and it has fabric seats. Honestly, I was grossed out by how much brown liquid and dirt came out of those seats but my car looks and smells amazing now . I would highly recommend this. Easy to move around and clean rugs, couches, cars, chairs, and more. Wish I had taken before and after photos because they would have been so good." — Zoey

Get it from Amazon for $109.59 .

28. A  spray-on cleaning gel  for the rust that's been turning your tub and shower walls orange and scaring you half to death every time you open the curtains. No scrubbing, I repeat — NO scrubbing — is required. 

Promising review: "I had two showers and two sinks to clean. Spent about an hour total on all. Spray, get it soaked, let it sit for about a minute, wipe, rinse, and repeat until done. Used almost the whole bottle. Totally worth it! This would have taken me a good three hours+ using Soft Scrub or Comet ." — Sarah.Sw

Get it from Amazon for $6.98+  (also available in multipacks).

29. An  "Angry Mama" microwave cleaner  that'll loosen up old food and stains so you don't have to spend hours scrubbing. Just fill her up with water and vinegar and let mama handle last week's lasagna. When she's done blowing her top, just easily wipe away the food! Mama always gets the job done.

Check out a  TikTok of the "Angry Mama" microwave cleaner  in action. 

Promising review:  "This makes cleaning out the microwave so easy . Even if I put it off too long and it's really gross in there, a few minutes of mama working in the microwave and I can literally just wipe it out with no effort ." — Katy H

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in four colors).

You running to your microwave in terror after seeing those before and after pics:

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.

Share This Article

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

Full Topic List

Regions & Countries

• Publications
• Our Methods
• Short Reads
• Tools & Resources

Read Our Research On:

Teens and Video Games Today

85% of u.s. teens say they play video games, and about four-in-ten do so daily. teens see both positive and negative sides of video games – from problem-solving and making friends to harassment and sleep loss, table of contents.

• Who plays video games?
• How often do teens play video games?
• What devices do teens play video games on?
• Social media use among gamers
• Teen views on how much they play video games and efforts to cut back
• Are teens social with others through video games?
• Do teens think video games positively or negatively impact their lives?
• Why do teens play video games?
• Bullying and violence in video games
• Appendix A: Detailed charts
• Acknowledgments
• Methodology

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to better understand teens’ use of and experiences with video games.

The Center conducted an online survey of 1,453 U.S. teens from Sept. 26 to Oct. 23, 2023, through Ipsos. Ipsos recruited the teens via their parents, who were part of its KnowledgePanel . The KnowledgePanel is a probability-based web panel recruited primarily through national, random sampling of residential addresses. The survey was weighted to be representative of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who live with their parents by age, gender, race and ethnicity, household income, and other categories.

This research was reviewed and approved by an external institutional review board (IRB), Advarra, an independent committee of experts specializing in helping to protect the rights of research participants.

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and  its methodology .

There are long-standing debates about the impact of video games on youth. Some credit them for helping young people form friendships and teaching them about teamwork and problem-solving . Others say video games expose teenagers to violent content, negatively impact their sleep and can even lead to addiction.

With this in mind, Pew Research Center surveyed 1,423 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 about their own video game habits – from how often they play to the friends they’ve made and whether it gets in the way of them doing well in school or getting a good night’s sleep. 1

Key findings from the survey

• Video games as a part of daily teen life: 85% of U.S. teens report playing video games, and 41% say they play them at least once a day. Four-in-ten identify as a gamer.
• Gaming as a social experience: 72% of teens who play video games say that a reason why they play them is to spend time with others. And some have even made a friend online from playing them – 47% of teen video game players say they’ve done this.
• Helpful with problem-solving, less so for sleep: Over half of teens who play video games say it has helped their problem-solving skills, but 41% also say it has hurt their sleep.
• Bullying is a problem: 80% of all teens think harassment over video games is a problem for people their age. And 41% of those who play them say they’ve been called an offensive name when playing.
• Boys’ and girls’ experiences differ: Most teen boys and girls play video games, but larger shares of boys identify as gamers (62% vs. 17%) and play every day (61% vs. 22%). Boys who play them are also more likely to experience positive things from it, like making friends, and more troubling things like harassment.

Jump to read about: Who plays video games | Socializing over video games | Views about video games’ impact | Harassment and violence in video games      

Playing video games is widespread among teens. The vast majority of U.S. teens (85%) say they play them. Just 15% say they never do, according to the survey conducted Sept. 26-Oct. 23, 2023.

In addition to asking whether teens play video games, we also wanted to learn whether they consider themselves gamers. Overall, four-in-ten U.S. teens think of themselves as gamers. Just under half of teens (45%) play video games but do not think of themselves as gamers.

Nearly all boys (97%) say they play video games, compared with about three-quarters of teen girls. There is a substantial gap by gender in whether teens identify as gamers: 62% of teen boys do, compared with 17% of girls. 2

By gender and age

Younger teen girls are more likely than older girls to say they play video games: 81% of girls ages 13 to 14 compared with 67% of those ages 15 to 17. But among boys, nearly all play video games regardless of age. 

Similar shares of teens play video games across different racial and ethnic groups and among those who live in households with different annual incomes. Go to Appendix A for more detail on which teens play video games and which teens identify as gamers.

We also asked teens how often they play video games. About four-in-ten U.S. teens say they play video games daily, including 23% who do so several times a day.

Another 22% say they play several times a week, while 21% play them about once a week or less.

Teen boys are far more likely than girls to say they play video games daily (61% vs. 22%). They are also much more likely to say they play them several times a day (36% vs. 11%).

By whether someone identifies as a gamer

About seven-in-ten teens who identify as gamers (71%) say they play video games daily. This drops to 30% among those who play them but aren’t gamers.

By household income

Roughly half of teens living in households with an annual income of less than $30,000 (53%) say they play video games at least daily. This is higher than those in households with an annual income of $30,000 to $74,999 (42%) and $75,000 or more (39%).

Go to Appendix A to see more details about who plays video games and identifies as a gamer by gender, age, race and ethnicity, and household income.

Most teens play video games on a gaming console or a smartphone. When asked about five devices, most teens report playing video games on a gaming console (73%), such as PlayStation, Switch or Xbox. And 70% do so on a smartphone. Fewer – though still sizable shares – play them on each of the following:

• 49% say they play them on a desktop or laptop computer
• 33% do so on a tablet  
• 24% play them on a virtual reality (VR) headset such as Oculus, Meta Quest or PlayStation VR

Many teens play video games on multiple devices. About a quarter of teens (27%) do so on at least four of the five devices asked about, and about half (49%) play on two or three of them. Just 8% play video games on one device.

Teen boys are more likely than girls to play video games on four of the five devices asked about – all expect tablets. For instance, roughly nine-in-ten teen boys say they ever play video games on a gaming console, compared with 57% of girls. Equal shares of teen boys and girls play them on tablets.  

Teens who consider themselves gamers are more likely than those who play video games but aren’t gamers to play on a gaming console (95% vs. 78%), desktop or laptop computer (72% vs. 45%) or a virtual reality (VR) headset (39% vs. 19%). Similar shares of both groups play them on smartphones and tablets.

One way that teens engage with others about video games is through online platforms. And our survey findings show that teen gamers stand out for their use of two online platforms that are known for their gaming communities – Discord and Twitch :

• 44% of teen gamers say they use Discord, far higher than video game players who don’t identify as gamers or those who use the platform but do not play video games at all. About three-in-ten teens overall (28%) use Discord.
• 30% of teens gamers say they use Twitch. About one-in-ten other teens or fewer say the same; 17% of teens overall use the platform.

Previous Center research shows that U.S. teens use online platforms at high rates .

Teens largely say they spend the right amount of time playing video games. When asked about how much time they spend playing them, the largest share of teens (58%) say they spend the right amount of time. Far fewer feel they spend too much (14%) or too little (13%) time playing them.

Teen boys are more likely than girls to say they spend too much time playing video games (22% vs. 6%).

By race and ethnicity

Black (17%) and Hispanic (18%) teens are about twice as likely than White teens (8%) to say they spend too little time playing video games. 3

A quarter of teens who consider themselves gamers say they spend too much time playing video games, compared with 9% of those who play video games but don’t identify as gamers. Teen gamers are also less likely to think they spend too little time playing them (19% vs. 10%).

Fewer than half of teens have reduced how much they play video games. About four-in-ten (38%) say they have ever chosen to cut back on the amount of time they spend playing them. A majority (61%) report that they have not cut back at all.

This share is on par with findings about whether teenagers have cut back with their screen time – on social media or their smartphone.

Although boys are more likely to say they play video games too much, boys and girls are on par for whether they have ever cut back. About four-in-ten teen boys (39%) and girls (38%) say that they have ever cut back.

And gamers are as likely to say they have cut back as those who play video games but don’t identify as gamers (39% and 41%).

A main goal of our survey was to ask teens about their own experiences playing video games. For this section of the report, we focus on teens who say they play video games.

Socializing with others is a key part of the video game experience. Most teens who play video games do so with others, and some have developed friendships through them.

About nine-in-ten teen video game players (89%) say they play them with other people, in person or online. Far fewer (11%) play them only on their own.

Additionally, about half (47%) report that they have ever made a friend online because of a video game they both play. This equals 40% of all U.S. teens who have made a friend online because of a video game.

These experiences vary by:  

• Gender: Most teen boy and girl video game players play them with others, though it’s more common among boys (94% vs. 82%). Boys who play video games are much more likely to say they have made a friend online because of a video game (56% vs. 35%).
• Race and ethnicity: Black (55%) and Hispanic (53%) teen video game players are more likely than White teen video game players (43%) to say they have made a friend online because of them.
• Whether someone identifies as a gamer: Nearly all teen gamers report playing video games with others (98%). Fewer – though still most – of those who play video games but aren’t gamers (81%) also play them with others. And about seven-in-ten (68%) say they have made a friend online because of a video game, compared with 29% of those who play them but don’t identify as gamers.

Teens who play video games are particularly likely to say video games help their problem-solving skills. More than half of teens who play video games (56%) say this.

Additionally, more think that video games help, rather than hurt, three other parts of their lives that the survey asked about. Among teens who play video games:

• Roughly half (47%) say it has helped their friendships
• 41% say it has helped how they work with others
• 32% say it has helped their mental health

No more than 7% say playing video games has hurt any of these.

More teens who play video games say it hurts, rather than helps, their sleep. Among these teens, 41% say it has hurt how much sleep they get, while just 5% say it helps. And small shares say playing video games has impacted how well they do in school in either a positive or a negative way.

Still, many teens who play video games think playing them doesn’t have much an impact in any of these areas. For instance, at least six-in-ten teens who play video games say it has neither a positive nor a negative impact on their mental health (60%) or their school performance (72%). Fewer (41%) say this of their problem-solving skills.

Teen boys who play video games are more likely than girls to think playing them has helped their problem-solving skills, friendships and ability to work with others. For instance, 55% of teen boys who play video games say this has helped their friendships, compared with 35% of teen girls.

As for ways that it may hurt their lives, boys who play them are more likely than girls to say that it has hurt the amount of sleep they get (45% vs. 37%) and how well they do in school (21% vs. 11%). 

Teens who consider themselves gamers are more likely than those who aren’t gamers but play video games to say video games have helped their friendships (60% vs. 35%), ability to work with others (52% vs. 32%), problem-solving skills (66% vs. 47%) and mental health (41% vs. 24%).

Gamers, though, are somewhat more likely to say playing them hurt their sleep (48% vs. 36%) and how well they do in school (20% vs. 14%).

By whether teens play too much, too little or the right amount

Teens who report playing video games too much stand out for thinking video games have hurt their sleep and school performance. Two-thirds of these teens say it has hurt the amount of sleep they get, and 39% say it hurt their schoolwork. Far fewer of those who say they play the right amount (38%) or too little (32%) say it has hurt their sleep, or say it hurt their schoolwork (12% and 16%).

Teens who play video games say they largely do so to be entertained. And many also play them to be social with and interact with others. Teens who play video games were asked about four reasons why they play video games. Among those who play video games:

• Nearly all say fun or entertainment is a major or minor reason why they play video games – with a large majority (87%) saying it’s a major reason.
• Roughly three-quarters say spending time with others is a reason, and two-thirds say this of competing with others. Roughly three-in-ten say each is a major reason.
• Fewer – 50% – see learning something as a reason, with just 13% saying it’s a major reason.

While entertainment is by far the most common reason given by teens who play video games, differences emerge across groups in why they play video games.

Teens who identify as gamers are particularly likely to say each is major reason, especially when it comes to competing against others. About four-in-ten gamers (43%) say this is a major reason, compared with 13% of those who play video games but aren’t gamers.

Teen boys who play video games are more likely than girls to say competing (36% vs. 15%), spending time with others (36% vs. 27%) and entertainment (90% vs. 83%) are major reasons they play video games.

Black and Hispanic teens who play video games are more likely than White teens to say that learning new things and competing against others are major reasons they play them. For instance, 29% of Black teen video game players say learning something new is a major reason, higher than 17% of Hispanic teen video game players. Both are higher than the 7% of White teen video game players who say the same.

Teens who play video games and live in lower-income households are especially likely to say competing against others and learning new things are major reasons. For instance, four-in-ten teen video game players who live in households with an annual income of less than $30,000 say competing against others is a major reason they play. This is higher than among those in households with annual incomes of $30,000 to $74,999 (29%) and $75,000 or more (23%).

Cyberbullying can happen in many online environments, but many teens encounter this in the video game world.

Our survey finds that name-calling is a relatively common feature of video game life – especially for boys. Roughly four-in-ten teen video game players (43%) say they have been harassed or bullied while playing a video game in one of three ways: 

• 41% have been called an offensive name
• 12% have been physically threatened
• 8% have been sent unwanted sexually explicit things

Teen boys are particularly likely to say they have been called an offensive name. About half of teen boys who play video games (48%) say this has happened while playing them, compared with about a third of girls (32%). And they are somewhat more likely than girls to have been physically threatened (15% vs. 9%).

Teen gamers are more likely than those who play video games but aren’t gamers to say they been called and offensive name (53% vs. 30%), been physically threatened (17% vs. 8%) and sent unwanted sexually explicit things (10% vs. 6%).

Teens – regardless of whether they’ve had these experiences – think bullying is a problem in gaming. Eight-in-ten U.S. teens say that when it comes to video games, harassment and bullying is a problem for people their age. This includes 29% who say it is a major problem.

It’s common for teens to think harassment while playing video games is a problem, but girls are somewhat more likely than boys to say it’s a major problem (33% vs. 25%).

There have also been decades-long debates about how violent video games can influence youth behavior , if at all – such as by encouraging or desensitizing them to violence. We wanted to get a sense of how commonly violence shows up in the video games teens are playing.

Just over half of teens who play video games (56%) say at least some of the games they play contain violence. This includes 16% who say it’s in all or most of the games they play.

Teen boys who play video games are far more likely than girls to say that at least some of the games they play contain violence (69% vs. 37%).

About three-quarters of teen gamers (73%) say that at least some of the games they play contain violence, compared with 40% among video game players who aren’t gamers.   

• Throughout this report, “teens” refers to those ages 13 to 17. ↩
• Previous Center research of U.S. adults shows that men are more likely than women to identify as gamers – especially the youngest adults. ↩
• There were not enough Asian American respondents in the sample to be broken out into a separate analysis. As always, their responses are incorporated into the general population figures throughout the report. ↩

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Fresh data delivery Saturday mornings

Sign up for The Briefing

Weekly updates on the world of news & information

• Friendships
• Online Harassment & Bullying
• Teens & Tech
• Teens & Youth

How Teens and Parents Approach Screen Time

Teens and internet, device access fact sheet, teens and social media fact sheet, teens, social media and technology 2023, what the data says about americans’ views of artificial intelligence, most popular, report materials.

1615 L St. NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 USA (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax (+1) 202-419-4372 |  Media Inquiries

Research Topics

• Age & Generations
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Economy & Work
• Family & Relationships
• Gender & LGBTQ
• Immigration & Migration
• International Affairs
• Internet & Technology
• Methodological Research
• News Habits & Media
• Non-U.S. Governments
• Other Topics
• Politics & Policy
• Race & Ethnicity
• Email Newsletters

ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of  The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Copyright 2024 Pew Research Center

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Settings

Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

The Architects of Hades Strive to Bewitch Gamers Again

Supergiant Games, a small independent studio, had always tackled new projects. Then its dungeon crawler featuring the Greek pantheon became an enormous success.

By Brian X. Chen

Brian X. Chen, The Times’s personal tech columnist, reported from San Francisco. His favorite weapon in Hades was the rail gun.

When Supergiant Games was wrapping up Hades, a mythologically rich hack-and-slash dungeon crawler it had spent more than three years developing, the studio concluded it was not quite done. The game’s premise of being trapped in hell, which particularly resonated during the pandemic , had opened paths to untold stories about Greek lore.

It needed a sequel.

This was a plot twist for the small independent studio, which had always pursued new ideas — even after its debut game, Bastion, was an immediate hit that ultimately sold millions of copies. Although Hades won numerous industry accolades and prestigious Hugo and Nebula Awards, the decision to make Hades II was a hard one.

“Making a sequel to us, as well, was unexpected,” Greg Kasavin, the creative director of Supergiant, said at the company’s chic studio space in San Francisco ahead of the early access release of Hades II this month.

“We think they’re really quite tough,” he added. “To be able to surprise and delight the audience in the same way is quite a challenge.”

For big-budget triumphs like Mass Effect and Red Dead Redemption, a new installment is an obvious step toward building a lucrative franchise. But although some popular indie games, like Spelunky and Slay the Spire , have pursued sequels, it is a much less frequent route for smaller game makers. Rather than making decisions for shareholders, they often prioritize artists and designers who are eager to express their creativity.

Indie hits also face distinct constraints. They often stand out because of a novel element — like the ability to rewind time in Braid — and that buzz does not always carry into a sequel, said Jesper Juul, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Architecture, Design and Conservation in Copenhagen.

“The first time people will tweet and post about it and say, ‘Wow, that’s amazing,’” said Juul, who wrote a book about independent games . “The second time it doesn’t have that novelty value.”

Supergiant was founded in 2009 by Amir Rao and Gavin Simon, who had worked on the real-time strategy Command & Conquer franchise at Electronic Arts, a giant corporation responsible for franchises such as The Sims and Madden.

Rao and Simon had noticed that several best-selling games, like Plants vs. Zombies and Castle Crashers, were coming from small studios. So they decided to form their own, initially setting up shop at a vacant house owned by Rao’s father in San Jose, Calif. Kasavin, a former video games journalist who also worked at Electronic Arts, joined them.

Kasavin said Supergiant had been tempted to create a sequel after the positive reception of Bastion (2011), in which a child collects powerful shards in a hostile environment that unfolds as a narrator provides commentary. But the team of seven at the time decided to explore other ideas, including science fiction, instead.

That led to Supergiant’s second game, Transistor (2014), about a famous singer who battles robots in a futuristic city. Its third project, the role-playing game Pyre (2017), features a band of exiles seeking freedom from purgatory.

By the time the studio, which now has 25 employees, released an early-access version of Hades in 2018, it had unintentionally created a perception that it was anti-sequel. Yet Supergiant is anything but: Among the games that employees list as their favorites are classic sequels, including Diablo II, Street Fighter II and Warcraft II.

Hades follows the journey of Zagreus, who in some versions of Greek mythology is considered the son of the god of the dead. As he ventures upward through the layers of hell with hopes of visiting his mother on the surface world, Zagreus fights monsters (including his father) with the help of other gods.

The idea of a sequel clicked when Supergiant realized that the god Hades also had daughters. Melinoë, a witch, created the opportunity to dive deep on the connection between Greek mythology and witchcraft.

Hades II has been in the works for more than three years, and not a single member of the team was against pursuing it, Kasavin said.

“We’re too small for that to be an acceptable starting point,” he said. “It’s only going to get tougher from there if you don’t have the raw excitement at the beginning.”

The long development process of Hades underscores one way that games are trying to optimize their odds of success . An incomplete version of the role-playing game Baldur’s Gate 3 was available to players for nearly three years before it was officially released in August to universal acclaim.

The early access version of Hades was made available in December 2018 with the hopes of receiving player input; the game that was officially released in September 2020 was the result of revisions based on thousands of pieces of feedback.

Supergiant is repeating this approach for the sequel. Hades II was released in early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store last week, and the studio said it expected to keep refining it through at least the end of this year.

Rao, who works on the game’s design and mechanics, said player feedback was crucial to the success of Hades. “We will absolutely need that for Hades II,” he said.

In its current state, Hades II is much more polished than the original Hades was at the same point. (A year before Hades was released in early access, it was a game that involved exploring a minotaur’s labyrinth.) But the sequel will still benefit from crowdsourced feedback, Rao said, because it is much larger in scope.

Unlike Zagreus’s singular path in the first Hades, Melinoë will be able to explore two main routes, which essentially makes the sequel at least double the size. Option A is a path down into the underworld to fight Chronos, the god of time, who has usurped her father’s throne. Option B, which opens up later in the game, is a path upward to defend Mount Olympus, the home of the gods, which is under siege by Chronos.

Much of what made the original game addictive remains intact. Hades II is part of the roguelite genre, where players incrementally progress by starting out weak, failing, trying again and applying what they have learned or unlocked to eventually beat the main boss.

To get stronger, Melinoë picks up artifacts known as boons that contain powers shared by gods such as Aphrodite, Hermes and Zeus. The average player will probably die dozens of times before snowballing into an unstoppable force to defeat Chronos.

Sequels can have particular pitfalls. Sitara Shefta, the head of studio at No Brakes Games, said it had been a challenge to expand on Human Fall Flat — a physics-based puzzle game that involves controlling a character named Bob through a dreamy landscape — while preserving what people loved about it.

The original game, by a solo developer, sold 50 million copies. A team of about 35 is working on the sequel, focusing on adding levels and improving the graphics.

“What we don’t want to do is dilute it,” Shefta said. “It’s a physics game where so many people can express themselves in different ways.”

Juul, the video game scholar, said successful independent game makers often faced an innovator’s dilemma. As teams grow larger, he said, they can lose nimbleness and begin playing it safe in response to external demands.

Supergiant said it got no such pressure to make a sequel from partners, including Netflix, which recently published Hades as a mobile game . The studio declined to share sales numbers, saying only that Hades outperformed Bastion, which sold 3 million copies by 2015 .

Days before Supergiant released the early access version of Hades II, a cluster of employees worked in its small studio space, which has an open floor design embellished with orange and crimson accents reminiscent of the original game’s color palette.

The team was eager to reveal how Melinoë’s role as a witch added new dimensions to the gameplay. Zagreus’s punches and sword swings were conducive to rapid button mashing, but Melinoë’s spell-casting staff and other magic weapons require careful timing and precision. With one of her combat moves, she projects a force field that traps surrounding enemies.

Rao said Supergiant would study player feedback through the studio’s Discord channel, web forums, livestreams and social media. The studio also logs some important data — if most players are not picking a certain weapon, for instance, that can serve as a suggestion for designers to make it more fun to use.

The iterative process of learning from mistakes to improve Hades and Hades II is essentially a rogue game in and of itself. Supergiant has been immersed in Greek mythology for nearly seven years, so it is easy for Kasavin to draw a comparison: Sisyphus pushing a boulder for eternity.

Brian X. Chen is the lead consumer technology writer for The Times. He reviews products and writes Tech Fix , a column about the social implications of the tech we use. More about Brian X. Chen

Inside the World of Video Games

What to Play Next?: For inspiration, read what our critics thought about the newest titles , as well as which games our journalists have been enjoying .

Influencers Dying to Go Viral:  The horror video game Content Warning, a surprise hit , lets players microdose as momentary celebrities on the fictional website SpookTube.

No Rest for the Wicked:  The studio behind Ori and the Blind Forest has pivoted into dark fantasy , inspired by Dark Souls, Diablo and “Game of Thrones.”

Difficult but Accessible: Games like Another Crab’s Treasure  are questioning whether fiendish challenges are an intrinsic feature of the Soulslike genre.

Vibrant African Myths: Tales of Kenzera: Zau  is both a paean to one son’s paternal memories and an engrossing Metroidvania, our critic says.