ERIC Number: EJ777360
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 15
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0143-0343
EISSN: N/A
Improving Creative Problem-Solving in a Sample of Third Culture Kids
Lee, Young Ju; Bain, Sherry K.; McCallum, R. Steve
School Psychology International, v28 n4 p449-463 2007
We investigated the effects of divergent thinking training (with explicit instruction) on problem-solving tasks in a sample of Third Culture Kids (Useem and Downie, 1976). We were specifically interested in whether the children's originality and fluency in responding increased following instruction, not only on classroom-based worksheets and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT; Torrance, 1990), but also on activities related to real-world dilemmas. Our treatment group of 15 children exhibited gains over 10 weeks of instruction whereas our comparison group of 15 children did not improve in performance. The respective effects of explicit instructions to improve originality or fluency were evident on classroom-based worksheets, on the TTCT and on Realistic Story Telling Problems [adapted from Real World Problems based on Okuda et al. (1991), Runco and Okuda (1988)]. Our results, albeit from a small sample, imply that relatively simple, explicit instructions focusing on originality or fluency can aid third culture children in adopting effective problem-solving stances as they construct their new cultural environment. (Contains 5 figures, 2 tables, and 1 note.)
Descriptors: World Problems, Creativity, Story Telling, Problem Solving, Creative Thinking, Cultural Context, Worksheets, Thinking Skills, Teaching Methods, Measures (Individuals), Tests, Korean Americans, Immigrants, Cultural Differences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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