Cognitive dimensions of creativity: What makes the difference between creative and non-creative university students?

• Authors: Morais Maria de Fatima , Almeida Leandro S. , Azevedo Maria Ivete , Necka Edward
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper analyses the contribution of specific cognitive functions on creative performance. The main question was which cognitive variables differentiate extreme levels of creative performance and therefore can characterize highly creative college students. A sample of Portuguese university students of Fine Arts and Literature (n=166) took part in this study. A battery of verbal and figural cognitive tasks, as well as two kinds of creative tasks (text and poster production) have been considered. Results showed that there were mostly the same cognitive dimensions (figurative reasoning, divergent thinking, insight problem solving, and problem-finding), which differentiate extreme levels of creative performance in both text and poster productions. These results are discussed considering the relevance of the cognitive approach to explain creativity. Some practical ideas, possible to put into the educational context, are also discussed.

Keywords

EN

COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS; CREATIVE PRODUCTION; CREATIVITY; DIVERGENT THINKING

Discipline

• PSYCHOLOGY: PSYCHOLOGY

• Publisher: Committee for Psychological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Polish Psychological Bulletin
• Year: 2009
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 55-61
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Morais Maria de Fatima

author

Almeida Leandro S.

author

Azevedo Maria Ivete

author

Necka Edward

• Maria de Fatima Morais, CIEd - Center of Educational Research of University of Minho, Portugal

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

11PLAAAA091227