Creativity

Question 1

. Rational Decision Making - the seven-stage model:

Answer 1

1. problem identification (What is the concern?)
2. goal selection (What do I want?)
3. generation of alternatives (What can I do?)
4. consideration of consequences (What might happen?)
5. decision-making (What is my decision?)
6. implementation
7. evaluation

Question 2

Generating Alternatives - Thinking inflexibly/rigidly

Answer 2

• fixation - inability to see a problem from a fresh perspective, e.g. 9 dot problem (Scheerer, 1963), O..T..T..F..?..?
• functional fixedness - tendency to perceive the functions of objects as fixed and unchanging, e.g. candle problem (Duncker, 1945).
• problem solving set (Einstellung) - tendency to repeat solutions which have worked in the past, e.g. water jugs (Luchins, 1959).

Question 3

Nature of Creativity

Answer 3

Escaping from conventional modes of thought. Not routine problem solving. When we go beyond our knowledge to solve a problem. Producing novel ideas. Insight. Expressing familiar themes in novel ways.
novelty • appropriateness • transcendence of constraints
• coalescence of meaning (Jackson and Messick, 1968)

Question 4

Phase theory (Wallas, 1926)

Answer 4

• preparation (perspiration rather than inspiration!)
• incubation
• illumination (Eureka!)
• verification

Question 5

Insight (Sternberg and Davidson (1982)

Answer 5

selective encoding, e.g. Fleming
• selective combination, e.g. Darwin
• selective comparison - analogical mapping from the base domain to the target domain, e.g. Kekule, Rutherford, Einstein.

Question 6

Creativity and Intelligence

Answer 6

Is creativity an aspect of intelligence when the outcome of cognitive processes produces something novel ?
• intelligence tests rely on convergent thinking (Guilford, 1957). Creativity from Divergent rather than Convergent thinking. Latter focuses and looks for answers in well established frameworks compared to former with wider ranging, looking outside accepted frameworks. Imaginative. Pattern recognition and making connections. Looking outside reality - links to psychotic behaviour (Eysenck, 1993).

Question 7

Creativity & Intelligence

Answer 7

Sternberg and Wagner (1987) distinguish between conventional, contextual (practical) and experiential (creative) intelligences.

• expertise in the field:- use of skilled, procedural schemas. Better strategies, better knowledge base, more chance of creative combinations. Age (30-40) and creativity (Lehman, 1953)….for scientists rather than artists (Dennis, 1966).
• localisation in the brain (Pink, D. 2007. A Whole New Mind):- development of ‘soft skills’ in the right brain. Differentiated by how creative you are – when internet gives everybody same knowledge potential. Bigger picture in right brain rather than details of left. Analytical and Creative types. Best thinkers switch between both types of thinking.

Question 8

Creativity and Personality

Answer 8

toleration of ambiguity

• risk taking. Make mistakes. If at first you don’t succeed……
• motivation:- to pursue creative production for satisfaction rather than money. (Amabile, 1989). Intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivation. Goal of originality, solution by whatever means, etc. Purpose/commitment. Aided by creative environment (Simonton, 1992).
• sense of humour:- creativity and humour both require ‘cognitive shifts’. Cognitive restructuring.

Question 9

Measuring creativity

Answer 9

a) Consequences Test (Guilford, 1959).
b) Ideational fluency (Wallach, 1970), e.g. uses for a brick……but ideas need to have quality and usefulness. Creativity - not originality!
c) Alternate uses (Wallach and Kogan) and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (1974).

Common to such approaches seem to be considerations of:

• fluency:- the number of ideas or problem solutions in a period of time
• flexibility:- extent of the variety of approaches to a specific problem
• uniqueness:- within peergroup for example
• originality:- new, original ideas
• usefulness
• elaboration:- expanding on a problem and its potential solutions

d) Openness (O) Domain from NEO PI-R (Big 5) Personality Inventory

Included Facets of Openness to:
Fantasy (O1), Aesthetics (O2), Feelings (O3), Actions (O4), Ideas (O5), and Values (O6)

Question 10

Training creativity ?

Answer 10

How much is creativity a personality trait, a cognitive ability…..or a thinking skill? If the latter, it can be trained.

Lateral thinking (de Bono, 1977) - not vertical thinking. Teaching of strategies to overcome it - how to generate alternatives and challenge assumptions, e.g. fractionating and reversals.