This repository comprises the data, Rmarkdown source and final version(s) of my paper:
Ian Hocking, & Vernon, David. (2017). A Bridge Too Far: Conceptual Distance and Creative Ideation. Creativity: Theories, Research, Applications, 4/(2), 333–352. https://doi.org/10.1515/ctra-2017-0017
The paper takes an experimental psychological approach to the improvement of creative problem solving (CPS) using a novel technique that involves 'near' and 'far' conceptual cues.
Previous research has shown changing perspectives to be important in problem finding, with viewpoint-based techniques like the ‘six thinking hats’ and the ‘six honest serving men’ improving performance (e.g. Vernon & Hocking, 2014). To date, however, evidence for similar techniques based on conceptually ‘near’ and ‘far’ cues, where conceptual distance is defined topologically in a semantic space, has shown mixed results. In a sample of 171 participants, we used two standard verbal problem scenarios together with six concepts that were either conceptually near or far from the problem scenario. Participants in the experimental group used the concepts when generating solutions; controls were given empty placeholders instead of concepts. Performance was measured for fluency, quality, originality and flexibility. With the exception of flexibility, participants did worse when using concepts of either type in comparison to controls. For flexibility, a borderline boost for far concepts was observed (η2 = .03, p = .06). We conclude that the cognitive load overhead introduced by our concept-cueing technique, or any other similar technique that attempts to shape the creative process, needs to be minimised through a variety of methods before we can better determine its usefulness and, thus, the role of conceptual distance in creative problem solving.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| README.org | Org version of README.md |
| letterToEditor.markdown | Letter to the editor of the journal (including responses to revision requests) |
| rmarkdown/paperCtra.rmd | Rmarkdown version of the paper |
The non-commercial use of the article will be governed by the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs license as currently displayed on http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/, except that sections 2 through 8 below will apply in this respect and prevail over all conflicting provisions of such license model. Without prejudice to the foregoing, the author hereby grants the Journal Owner the license for commercial use of the article (for U.S. government employees: to the extent transferable) according to section 2 below, and sections 4 through 9 below, throughout the world, in any form, in any language, for the full term of copyright, effective upon acceptance for publication.