Two experiments involving 44 Hong Kong undergraduates revealed that solving novel conceptual combination problems could enhance performance in a subsequent test of creativity. The evidence also showed that the beneficial effects of solving novel conceptual combination problems were mediated in part by the use of novel conceptual combination…

This article reviews contemporary studies on the concept of creativity across two cultures, Eastern cultures and Western cultures, by examining people's implicit theories of creativity across different cultures and cross-cultural studies of creativity. Cross-cultural studies revealed that Easterners and Westerners differ, on average, in their…

Undergraduates (n=195) were asked to work on three creative problem-solving tasks. Beliefs consistent with the nature of the task were found to be those most likely to be related to performance. Belief measures were found to be reasonably powerful predictors of the production of original, high-quality solutions. (Contains references.) (CR)

The following recommendations for promoting students' creative thinking are provided: provide better teacher training; use cooperative teams; combine media tools and teacher instructional skills; detect conditions that contribute to boredom; avoid continuous classroom routines; encourage students to take initiative for constructive use of…

A study involving 47 Chinese managers investigated whether those who were creative in imagery were better at interpreting ambiguous figures. Results found managers who were creative in imagery were more capable in interpreting ambiguous figures and were quicker in their discoveries than managers less creative in imagery. (Contains references.)…

A study involving 35 Hong Kong undergraduates tested the Regulatory Focus Theory, which maintains that people may focus on achieving positive outcomes (have a promotion focus) or on avoiding negative ones (have a prevention focus). Results indicate the prevention focus group is more likely to join a competition. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

This study compared the performance of 112 ninth-grade students on two parallel divergent thinking tests: The Verbal Forms of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (a domain independent measure) and the Creativity in History Test (a content specific measure). Results indicated that both content-specific and task-specific factors have significant…

An inventory measuring the explicit need to be different (vDiffer) was administered together with three divergent production (originality) measures to 85 college students. The need to be different predicted unusual category exemplars, word associations, and uses for common objects. Innovation motivation accounted for significant variance over that…

This study examined the effects of three time-press and three creative-prompt conditions on early vs. later trial originality scores for three divergent production stimuli with 91 undergraduate students. Findings indicated a higher frequency of originality scores for the latter portions of trials for all time-press and prompting conditions.…

This study examined the influence of time press, specific stimulus, and type of creativity prompt on fluency and flexibility scores of 75 undergraduates. Results suggest that time press has a strong, and typically linear influence on both fluency and flexibility scores. A significant difference across stimuli was observed for flexibility, but not…

Managers (n=112) from a large international consumer goods manufacturer participated in a field experiment in which they learned and applied the Simplex process of creative thinking to solve real management problems. Behavioral skill in generating quantity of options was the most important variable to the creative process. (Contains references.)…

Preliminary analysis of data collected from trained expert facilitators of ad hoc creative teams (n=43) found that complex analytical techniques such as costed function modeling and decision criteria matrix may have far more impact upon a team's creative effectiveness than frequently researched measures such as idea quantity. (Contains…

Three new improved scales that measure independent divergent-thinking attitudes were developed: "Valuing New Ideas,""Belief That Creativity Is Not for Only a Select Few," and "Not Feeling Too Busy for New Ideas." Two studies found the scales to have higher internal consistencies, improved understanding and labeling, and external validity.…

A reanalysis of data from three previously published studies on whether creativity is content general or content specific suggest that, contrary to the results of recent research, a content-general factor may explain 40-50% of the variance in creativity checklist scores. Results are analyzed in light of other studies. (Author/CR)

Reviews major areas of controversy concerning creativity's definition in chronological order corresponding to the publication of each definition of significant influence. Each definition's reasons for failing to achieve widespread acceptance are analyzed, and a suggestion for a general definition is provided. (Author/CR)