1. Introduction Hypothesis Discussion Results Method
Procedure
NFC
18-item Likert-type scale(Cacioppo, Petty, and Kao, 1984)
Alpha = .89
Creative problem solving - Participants provided a solution to an ill-defined problem. the creativity of their ideas was assessed on the dimensions of quality and originality (Runco & Basadur, 1993).
Problem construction - Participants restated an ill-defined problem in as many different ways as possible. Their restatements were counted.
Idea generation - Participants listed consequences to an ill-defined problem. The number of ideas produced was counted.
Idea evaluation - Participants evaluated the degree of quality and originality of 15 solutions to an ill-defined problem. There were three experimental conditions. Participants were given a rubric for the evaluation of the solutions containing either:
More structure condition; descriptions of levels of originality.
Limited structure condition; a simple definition of originality.
No structure condition; no definition of originality.
Evaluation inaccuracy was calculated by subtracting participants’ solution evaluation ratings from expert ratings of the same solution.
Analyses – Regressions were conducted to examine the role of NFC on outcomes of each creative thinking process.
NFC was a significant positive predictor of generated idea count (β = .18, p = .016).
Evaluation structure did not moderate the effect of NFC on originality evaluation inaccuracy
Evaluation structure did moderate the effect of NFC on quality evaluation inaccuracy.
Previous research has identified the trait need for cognition (NFC) as a predictor of creativity (e.g., Butler, et al., 2003, Dollinger, 2003; Dollinger, et al., 2002; Osburn & Mumford, 2006).
NFC refers to the disposition to seek out and take pleasure in thinking processes (Cacioppo & Petty, 1982).
This study examined how participants’ NFC affected different creative thinking processes.
Multiple models of the creative thinking process have been proposed, but three processes have been identified as core to all of them (Reiter-Palmon & Illies, 2004).
Problem construction – the recognition and definition of the problem (Reiter-Palmon & Robinson, 2009)
Idea generation -the production of multiple ideas (Guilford, 1957).
Idea evaluation - putting ideas into context and assessing them (Blair & Mumford, 2007).
Interaction of Evaluation Structure on the Effect of Need for Cognition on Idea Evaluation Accuracy
Note: N = 60 for each condition. *p < .05.
Hypothesis
Those with higher NFC are likely to perform better in ill- defined, creative tasks, due to the complex nature of creative cognitive processes (Dollinger, 2003). As such, NFC will positively predict participants’ creative problem-solving.
Research underlines the complexity of cognition found within problem construction (Mumford, et al., 1994), idea generation (Butler et al., 2003), and idea evaluation (Runco & Chand, 1995) As such, NFC will positively predict the outcomes of these processes.
As evaluation structure can relieve cognitive demand, we expect structure to moderate the effect of NFC on idea evaluation.
Discussion
NFC was found to predict creative outcomes within every key process of creative thinking.
This study provides a first look at NFC in problem construction and idea evaluation processes.
This study also shows that in conditions of higher cognitive demand and complexity (i.e., the no structure condition), those with higher NFC are more accurate in their solution quality evaluations.
Taken together, the conclusions from this research emphasize the importance of NFC. Organizations looking to identify and define problems, generate new ideas, or evaluate ideas can seek this trait.
Results
NFC was a significant positive predictor of creative problem solving solution quality (β = .17, p = .031) and originality (β = .18, p = .017).
NFC was a significant positive predictor of problem restatement count (β = .16, p = .033).
Method
Participants
180 students
124 females and 55 males
Average age = 21.66, (SD = 6.49)