Examples facilitate divergent thinking: The effects of timing and quality

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Creativity Research
• Problem-Solving Studies

Background:

• Examples can influence cognitive processes, but their effectiveness depends on presentation.
• Understanding how timing and quality of examples impact divergent thinking (DT) is crucial for optimizing creative problem-solving.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of example timing (early vs. late) and quality (novel vs. common) on divergent thinking (DT).
• To examine how these factors interact, particularly in tasks like the alternative uses task (AUT).

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted involving participants solving problems and receiving examples.
• Study 1: Participants completed a realistic problem task with early/late, novel/common examples.
• Study 2: Participants completed the alternative uses task (AUT) with similar example manipulations.

Main Results:

• Later examples enhanced DT fluency and flexibility compared to early examples.
• Novel examples improved originality more than common examples.
• These effects were replicated in the AUT, with novel examples further boosting late-stage fluency and flexibility.

Conclusions:

• Both the timing and quality of examples significantly affect divergent thinking.
• Late and novel examples generally facilitate DT, with quality moderating timing's effect in specific tasks like AUT.