Interaction effect of response medium and working memory capacity on creative idea generation.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Creativity Research
• Human Cognition

Background:

• Creative idea generation is influenced by cognitive processes.
• Working memory capacity (WMC) plays a role in complex cognitive tasks.
• The method of responding (writing vs. speaking) may impact creative fluency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interaction between response medium and WMC in creative idea generation.
• To determine how cognitive demand mediates the effect of response medium on creative fluency.
• To provide empirical support for the controlled-attention theory of creativity.

Main Methods:

• Ninety participants were categorized by higher or lower WMC.
• Participants completed the Alternative Uses Task (AUT) under either a writing or speaking condition.
• Creative idea generation fluency was measured as the primary outcome.

Main Results:

• Idea generation fluency was significantly higher when participants wrote down ideas compared to speaking them.
• Higher WMC individuals showed superior AUT fluency in the writing condition, but not the speaking condition.
• Cognitive demand fully mediated the relationship between response medium and AUT fluency.

Conclusions:

• The findings highlight the critical role of WMC in creative idea generation.
• Writing down ideas appears more beneficial for creative fluency than speaking, particularly for individuals with higher WMC.
• Cognitive demand is a key factor in understanding how response modality affects creative output, supporting the controlled-attention theory.