The Utility of Divergent and Convergent Thinking in the Problem Construction Processes During Creative Problem-Solving

The process of problem construction is known to be a critical influence on creative problem-solving. The current study assessed the utility of different problem construction methods used to maximize creativity during the creative process. An experimental design was used to explore the interplay betw...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology of aesthetics, creativity, and the arts creativity, and the arts, 2024-10, Vol.18 (5), p.858-868
Main Authors: Wigert, Benjamin G., Murugavel, Vignesh R., Reiter-Palmon, Roni
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Creativity
Divergent Thinking
Female
Human
Inductive Deductive Reasoning
Male
Problem Solving
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Summary:The process of problem construction is known to be a critical influence on creative problem-solving. The current study assessed the utility of different problem construction methods used to maximize creativity during the creative process. An experimental design was used to explore the interplay between convergent and divergent thinking processes. Participants were asked to creatively solve an ill-defined problem under four conditions that varied in their combinations of instruction to engage in divergent and convergent thinking. Findings indicated that engaging in divergent thinking, followed by a convergent thinking method during the problem construction process results in more creative solutions than using only methods associated with divergent thinking. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
ISSN:1931-3896
1931-390X
DOI:10.1037/aca0000513