A new system of teaching is presented with the goal of preparing students for the modern world. (CK)

An instrument for self-analysis of creative problem-solving style is introduced. A circular flow model of dynamic tension establishes a profile based on one's orientation toward generation, conceptualization, implementation, and optimization of knowledge. Preliminary tests with 130 businesspeople and undergraduate students indicate high…

The discovery of penicillin is cited in a discussion of the role of serendipity as it relates to scientific discovery. The importance of sagacity as a personality trait is noted. Successful researchers have questioning minds, are willing to view data from several perspectives, and recognize and appreciate the unexpected. (JW)

University security officers (n=34) played a simulation game designed to evaluate emergent leadership in a problem-solving situation. Both facilitative leadership style and individual creative contribution were found to make significant contributions to group members' perceptions of leadership. Implications are drawn for personnel selection,…

Six practicing artists were interviewed about how they overcome creative blocks. Their responses indicated that feelings of self-doubt, fear, and depression accompany blocks but that relaxing and working on new directions and playing ideas off a supportive person helped to overcome such blocks. (DB)

Thirty-two high school students were categorized by creativity style (adaptor or innovator) and completed two musical composition problems involving two different degrees of problem-finding behaviors: an open, and a closed, problem. No significant differences due to problem type, creativity style, or the interaction of the two factors was found.…

Three studies sought to determine whether incubation effects could be reliably generated in a problem-solving task. Experimental variables manipulated were the duration of the interval between two problem-solving opportunities and the activity performed by the problem solvers during the interval. A multisolution anagram task was used which…

Two projects have been designed to help gifted students enlarge, enrich, and make more accurate their images of the future. (BD)

Differences in cognitive and interpersonal characteristics between good problem solvers and good problem posers (inventors) were examined with 35 ninth graders. Good problem posers were more field independent and had a more positive self image than problem solvers. (DB)

In the context of an industrial organization, the term "suggestion system" means an administrative procedure for collecting, judging, and compensating ideas for improvements conceived by the employees. Four different problem areas of the suggestion system are examined to determine whether the psychological advantages claimed for the suggestion…

Two hundred gifted and talented secondary students received an intensive exposure to a diverse array of learning and thinking experiences (indirect training) while 68 graduate students received intensive training in creative problem solving with emphasis on right cerebral hemisphere functions (direct training). (CL)

Forty New Zealand children (ages 3-4) were given false-belief and creativity tasks to investigate whether those with a Theory of Mind outlook are better at searching their own minds for creative answers. The numbers of appropriate and original responses in the creativity test correlated positively with performance on false-belief tasks. (Author/CR)

Bibliographic information on 98 recent books on creativity and problem solving is presented, arranged alphabetically by author. Each listing notes the major topics addressed. Topics include creative ability in business, organizational change, gifted students, technological innovations, psychological aspects of creativity, and social aspects of…

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)

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…