...National Conference On Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2013 University of Wisconsin La Crosse, WI April 11 – 13, 2013 Evaluating The Alternative Uses Test of Creativity Caitlin Dippo College of Design University of Minnesota Twin Cities 100 Church St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 Faculty Advisor Barry Kudrowitz Abstract The Alternative Uses Test is a means of evaluating divergent thinking abilities. The test requires subjects to list nonobvious uses for a common object. In our studies, participants were given three minutes to take this test using a paper clip as the object. There are several objectives of this research. Firstly, we are testing the hypothesis that the subjects who list more responses will have more creative responses. Similarly, we hypothesize that as one lists alternative uses, the items suggested first will be less creative/novel than the items towards the end. This data should provide insight into how people make associations while generating ideas. A secondary goal of this research is to develop an automated scoring rubric for this specific Alternative Uses Test to allow for a faster evaluation of creativity. Keywords: Creativity, Alternative Uses, Paperclip 1. Introduction Divergent thinking is a critical part of a creative design process. Design problems typically do not have one correct solution and often there are many solutions for a given problem. It is important to better understand how divergent thinking is evaluated and how people...
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...2004 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands Divergent and Convergent Idea Generation in Teams: A Comparison of Computer-Mediated and Face-to-Face Communication DAVID S. KERR Department of Accounting, Mays School of Business, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4353, USA (E-mail: d-kerr@tamu.edu) UDAY S. MURTHY School of Accountancy, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue BSN3403, Tampa, FL 33620-5500, USA (E-mail: umurthy@coba.usf.edu) Abstract Many tasks and decisions in business, including management consulting, are performed in group settings. Computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools (e.g., Lotus Notes) are increasingly being used by businesses to support teams in a variety of settings. Considerable research in information systems has demonstrated the advantages of “electronic brainstorming” (EBS) for generic tasks involving only divergent thinking. However, it is unclear whether the benefits of CMC extend to tasks that require both divergent and convergent processes. Per task–technology fit theory (TTF) (Zigurs and Buckland 1998), the use of computer-based group communication support tools, including “chat” systems in wide-spread use today, may be less effective for convergent processes than for divergent processes. This study experimentally compares the performance of computer-mediated and face-to-face (FTF) teams on tasks requiring both divergent and convergent processes. Consistent with theoretical predictions, the...
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...thinking involves all of these thinking styles, plus fluency, flexibility, and originality. Let’s say that you would like to find creative uses for the millions of automobile tires discarded each year. The creativity of your suggestions could be rated in this way: Fluency is defined as the total number of suggestions you are able to make. Flexibility is the number of times you shift from one class of possible uses to another. Originality refers to how novel or unusual your ideas are. By counting the number of times you showed fluency, flexibility, and originality, we could rate your creativity, or capacity for divergent thinking (Baer, 1993). Divergent thinking is widely used to measure creativity. In routine problem solving or thinking, there is one correct answer, and the problem is to find it. This leads to convergent thinking (lines of thought converge on the answer). Divergent thinking (see ✦Figure 1,...
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...Master Business Studies, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), University of Amsterdam THE INFLUENCE OF PHISICAL ACTIVITY ON CREATIVITY THE WALK TO INNOVATIVE SUCCES! Abstract This paper is an analytical review about the possible relation between physical activity and creativity. Relative new research studies show promising results for a possible positive relationship between walking or standing meetings and increased levels of creativity at the workplace. By creating a conceptual graph and discussing several models, the potential role of physical activity in the creativity process is shown and the important role of the organisational environment. Although future research is clearly needed, stimulating physical activity might be a useful new management practice to enhance creativity in companies. Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management Paper Introduction Artists, musicians, writers, have used body movement to help overcome mental blocks and lack of inspiration. Also, historical figures like Sigmund Freud, Charles Dickens, and Charles Darwin, frequently walked to find solutions for deeper questions and thoughts (Loehle, 1990). For example, Harry s. Truman woke up at five in the morning for a ‘vigorous’ walk of a mile or two, wearing a business suit and tie. More modern methods are also used by Steve Jobs who is well known for his walking meetings and Mark Zuckerberg who has also been holding meetings on foot. It seems that they all intuitively knew...
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...DESIGN THINKING: CHARACTERISTICS AND PROMISES Arkin Efeoglu1, Charles Møller2, Michel Sérié3, Harry Boer2 1 2 SAP Germany Aalborg University, Denmark 3 SAP Germany arkin.efeoglu@sap.com ABSTRACT This paper analyses a variety of Design Thinking methods to identify a governable pattern that is required to roll out Design Thinking as mindset in a multi-national company. A comparative analysis is essential to unveil focal points that lead to this organizational mindset transformation. Hence, a thorough understanding of the method and its core values may avoid uncoordinated innovation capabilities. Ultimately innovation will not be an R&D topic in an organization anymore but become part for every employee’s job, irrespective of his or her position. Keywords: Design thinking methods and characteristics, Review 1. INTRODUCTION A number of new innovation methods have emerged during the past two decades with an increasing interdisciplinary collaboration between the engineering, economic and social sciences. In spite of this, it is still a challenge to develop and introduce new innovations. One approach that increasingly makes its way to businesses of all sizes is called Design Thinking. This approach seems to be more promising to operationalize the innovation capabilities of a company (Brenner and Witte, 2011). Design Thinking is a human-centered problem solving method that mostly leads to radical innovative solution in terms of the feasibility, desirability...
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...process of it. Sea floor spreading and plate boundaries are not a common subject to anyone outside of a scientific or marine biology lab. The purpose of this paper is to identify plate boundaries. Compare and contrast ideas behind plate tectonics and the theory of the continental drift. There are many types of plate boundaries. Each one is unique in its own way. Below three of the primary types are described in detail. There are several natural events that occur as a direct result of plate boundary interaction. To properly understand the what and how of plate boundaries one must first know what they are. According to Annenberg Foundation (2014), “The border between two tectonic plates is called a boundary. All the tectonic plates are constantly moving — very slowly — around the planet, but in many different directions. Some are moving toward each other, some are moving apart, and some are sliding past each other” (para. 3). Divergent, convergent, and transform are the three primary types of plates. According to "Plate Tectonics" (2010) “A divergent boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. Along these boundaries, lava spews from long fissures and geysers spurt superheated water. Frequent earthquakes strike along the rift. Beneath the rift, magma—molten rock—rises from the mantle” (divergent boundary). According to "Plate Tectonics" (2010), “When two plates come together, it is known as a convergent boundary. The impact of the...
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...Subject: Effective Writing (EL1010) Topic: “Interpersonal Communication”. Grade Awarded: Distinction Lecturer’s Comments: Where you have not used the primary source you should indicate this e.g. Phillips in Francis 1992. AREA CRITERIA COMMENTS INTRODUCTION (10) • Subject matter and direction clearly shown and defined. • Clear link to question Clear focus CONTENT - BASIC (10) • Evidence of basic reading/data/understandings appropriate to topic. Base reading well understood. Clear definitions consistently used. CONTENT - REACTION (10) • Evidence of personal reactions to basic ideas. • Depth analysis of major ideas Very little personal reaction on example 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (10) • Evidence of wider reading and critical analysis. • Contributions and conclusions drawn. Excellent reading beyond the base set. Not a lot of critique through culture introduced. PRESENTATION (10) • Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. • Acceptable and consistent referencing format. • Reference list up to date and relevant. • Originality, format and style. • Development of a logical thesis clearly linked to the question asked. Well written with useful headings and coherent argument. (Note: This sample is provided in the exact form it was submitted and corrections and comments made in the text by the lecturer are not included.) To function effectively in today’s society people must communicate with one another. Yet for some individuals communication experiences are...
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...display a pattern as to why many marriages fail. Factors and warning signs that may contribute to a failed marriage include factors before the marriage, and during a marriage. Such factors before a marriage include; his or her parents divorcing, either partner is under the age of 21, family is opposed to the marriage, cohabitation before marriage, a previous divorce of either partner, or a large discrepancy in age, background, interests, and values. (Berger 2009) While one may say that catching these warning signs early could prevent a couple from immaturely embarking on the trip down the aisle, many signs are simply ignored by pre-marital bliss. The warning signs for divorce while in the marriage may be more detectable. Such signs include; divergent plans and practices regarding childbearing and child...
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...FOUND AT: http://www.jcu.edu.au/tldinfo/writingskills/essay/sample.html Subject: Effective Writing (EL1010) Topic: “Interpersonal Communication”. Grade Awarded: Distinction Lecturer’s Comments: Where you have not used the primary source you should indicate this e.g. Phillips in Francis 1992. AREA CRITERIA COMMENTS INTRODUCTION (10) Subject matter and direction clearly shown and defined. Clear link to question Clear focus CONTENT - BASIC (10) Evidence of basic reading/data/understandings appropriate to topic. Base reading well understood. Clear definitions consistently used. CONTENT - REACTION (10) Evidence of personal reactions to basic ideas. Depth analysis of major ideas Very little personal reaction on example 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (10) Evidence of wider reading and critical analysis. Contributions and conclusions drawn. Excellent reading beyond the base set. Not a lot of critique through culture introduced. PRESENTATION (10) Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. Acceptable and consistent referencing format. Reference list up to date and relevant. Originality, format and style. Development of a logical thesis clearly linked to the question asked. Well written with useful headings and coherent argument. (Note: This sample is provided in the exact form it was submitted and corrections and comments made in the text by the lecturer are not included.) To function effectively in today’s society people must communicate with one...
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...Creativity can be defined as an idea or solution to a problem or situation which is original and distinctive to other work to which can be compared (Runco, 2004). It affects many varying domains that play a substantial role in society e.g. business, innovation, arts, sciences and education (Simonton, 1997). The concept of creativity was not fully recognised until the practical developments of man aided with the economy and also the standard of living –for example the invention of the steam engine and the telephone (Sternberg and Kaufman, 2010). However, it wasn’t until the late 18th century that ‘imagination’ was accepted independently as the leading factor in creativity (Engell, 1981). Many psychologists believe that the imagination is limited due to both internal and external factors that I shall outline in my essay. Cognitive processes and knowledge are fundamental factors when attempting to comprehend creativity. It is generally agreed that obtainable knowledge greatly contributes to creativity, and the quality of creative thoughts are affected by a person’s knowledge and the way in which the aspects of this knowledge is processed (Munford and Gustafson, 1988). Some psychologists believe that there is a threshold level that above an IQ of approximately 120, there is a strong association between IQ and creativity, but above that level this hypothesis is not supported (MacKinnon, 1961). A low IQ suggests that a person would struggle with creativity – regarding both the...
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...Theme: Assessing Research Performance There are three focus areas in assessing research performance: reliability, validity, and credibility. Reliability itself defined as the degree to which a measure yields consistent results. Validity means the degree to which a study accurately reflects or assesses the specific concept that the researcher is attempting to measure. Credibility means a researcher’s ability to demonstrate that the object of a study is accurately identified and described based on the way in which the study was conducted. We will discuss the research performance assessment in a paper by Rousseau titled Psychological Contract Inventory Technical Report (2000) based on those three areas I have mentioned previously. Rousseau use sample from US and Singapore in order to test the consistency of the test result. - Reliability Rousseau assessed whether PCI could lead researcher to consistent result. PCI use 5 scales questionnaire in four sets of question. These four sets are: relational, balanced, transactional, and transitional. Most of the scales have high reliability. Rousseau assesses it by using a statistics method. Rousseau state that “Initial analyses identified that several scales did meet the traditional standards for convergence and reliability (where a minimum Cronbach’s alpha coefficient is 0.7)”. Moreover, Rousseau identified some problematic scales such as Employer Narrow and Employer Security. As a conclusion, the PCI is a reliable tool. - Validity ...
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...Synopsis of Communication Theories: Constructivism, Organizations, & Accommodation Josh Garcia Central Michigan University Synopsis of Communication Theories: Constructivism, Organizations, & Accommodation Throughout this course, several theories of communication were covered. Being able to communicate effectively is a critical component in the development of establishing meaningful relationships among people and places, as well as the exchange of information. In order to establish effective communication skills, it is necessary to analyze the system of ideas that have been designed among several scholars. However, this paper is specifically focused on the discussion of three theories, which were found to have relevant viewpoints. Throughout this paper, the theory of constructivism, the critical theory of communication in organizations (CTCO), and communication accommodation theory (CAT) were examined. Constructivism Theory Constructivism is a communication theory, which is focused on the identification of individual differences among people’s ability to communicate effectively in social situations (Griffin, 2012). Jesse Delia is credited for the development of constructivism theory. Delia’s theory of constructivism implies there is a difference between people who are interpersonally successful, opposed to those who are not. Delia’s theory of constructivism is focused on being able to better understand the differences among individuals who communicate more effectively...
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...Social Psychology Definition Paper Douglas Cooper PSY/400 April 4, 2016 Ami Taharka Social Psychology Definition Paper How do people think about, influence, and relate to each other? These are just some of the questions that social psychologists are looking to answer. This paper will further define social psychology’s goals to elicit a richer understanding of the field. It will discuss how social psychology differs from other disciplines, such as clinical psychology, general psychology, and sociology and why those differences are important. Finally, it will examine research methods and strategies that social psychologist utilize to answer questions. Social Psychology Defined According to our text, social psychology “is the scientific study of how people think about, influence, and relate to one another” (Myers, 2010, pg. 4). It is a relatively young science, that some may confuse with sociology. Whereas sociology focuses on group dynamics, social psychology focuses more on how individuals interact with each other. At the heart of social psychology are three different constructs. These are: social thinking (what we perceive about ourselves and other, what we believe, the judgements we make, and our attitudes), social influence (culture, conformity pressures, persuasion), and social relations (prejudice, aggression, attraction and intimacy, and helping). There are several concepts that contribute to these constructs. Some of these include the following. First is that...
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...Final Research Paper Topic Mary Levengood HSM305: Survey of Homeland Security & Emergency Mgmt Instructor: Stephanie Lemmon February 22, 2016 Final Research Paper Topic Across the development of history here in United States, the nation has dealt with domestic terrorism originating from numerous locations. These include individual terrorists, organized crowds, and anti-American groups. Many of these warnings and frightening operations were made with goals to obtain political and social recognition. With all the details that have been compensated and obtained by the Department of Homeland Security’s Counterterrorism groups, we can begin to comprehend and determine these terrorist’s strategies. As our past has revealed, terminating these domestic terrorists is an exceedingly difficult thing to do. It takes time, work, money, and skills and talent of an essential group of individuals to penetrate terroristic unions and their developing strategies. Still, we do not permit this to avert us in our attempts to eliminate terroristic threats and their movements towards the United States. Our government and it’s aptly instructed Department of Homeland Security will not permit these domestic terrorists to intimidate or terrorize our country. "The Department of Homeland Security is made up of many components. The training and preparation it takes to be part of this group is detailed and extensive. Its structure has changed through time," (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2016)...
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...Grading Criteria - Individual Assignment Critical Thinking in the Legal Environment: Torts and Products Liability Objective 1: Apply models of critical thinking and systems thinking to address complex organizational issues. Objective 4: Analyze the link between ethics and organizational effectiveness Objective 5: Apply legal concepts in the business environment to managerial decision-making and implementation Competencies: Critical Thinking, Information Literacy/Research Skills, Communication Skills Assignment: Research the McDonald's and Pearson cases, and in 10-12 double-spaced pages compare and contrast the facts, law, and merits of the two lawsuits by answering the following questions. Include an introduction and conclusion in your paper. |Criteria |Exceeds Expectations |Meets Expectations |Below Expectations | |Assignment Questions | | | | |1. What are the facts? |Clearly identifies and explains a majority of|Generally correct in identification of |Does not correctly identify the relevant Facts. | | |the relevant Facts in each case. |the relevant Facts, but includes some |Important facts are missing and/or there are an...
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