This report investigates improvement of pupils' creative thinking and problem-solving abilities through direct educational efforts. The sample consisted of 739 pupils and their teachers from 36 fifth grade classes in two Indiana public school systems. Five sub-tests from the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking were administered to all teachers to…

A High School course, General Studies Survival Curriculum, was designed to aid students in problem solving in a complex society. Areas of concern were psychology, consumer economics, environmental studies, law and society, religion and values, ethnic studies, applied aesthetics, creative studies, occupations and futurism. (JB)

Discusses the effect of bilingualism on cognitive growth and divergent thinking. That bilinguals have the potential for increased communication and greater problem solving should encourage United States' educators to consider bilingual education as a curriculum model for almost everyone. (Author)

Intuitive thinking greatly enhances life and is a valuable supplement to the objective, analytical mode of thinking. Focus throughout the educational process is on the use of analytical thought processes. Often children with exceptional creative abilities have been penalized for their abilities and labelled troublemakers. (PHR)

It was hypothesized that certain programmed productive thinking materials would increase both the divergent and convergent thinking abilities being measured and that there would be a direct relationship between any change in one of these abilities and any change in the other. Six classes of 6th-grade suburban students with I.Q.'s ranging from 79…

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of varying instructions and time to respond in administering divergent thinking tests. Variations in testing conditions change the magnitude and nature of the scores obtained. (Author)

The first purposes of this project were to develop a new measure of Creative Problem-Solving (Improving Research Testing) and to develop new scoring criteria for the College Situations Problems. In addition, evidence concerning the reliability and validity of nine new variables derived from these two measures was examined. Adequate levels of…

In brainstorming a group attempts to find a solution for a specific problem by amassing all the ideas spontaneously contributed by members. Brainstorming is recommended when the generation of ideas will be beneficial to the solution of problems. Four fundamental rules of brainstorming include: (1) criticism is not allowed during the thinking…

Investigates the problem solving processes of creative and noncreative students by analyzing their verbalizations while engaged in three problem solving tasks. (Author/DEP)

Three modules designed to teach creative problem solving are included. Although prepared for mathematics teachers, the situations used are non-mathematical. The modules are entitled "Application of Deferred Judgment,""Recognizing the Real Problem," and "Developing the Solution." Instructor's guides for all modules are included together with the…

The article discusses the concept of inspiration as a component of creativity, including environmental influences, affective self-awareness, effective verbal communication to preserve inspired experiences, and the role of humor. The creative problem-solving process is also addressed, with attention to divergent thinking strategies and the practice…

In this interview, Edward de Bono says critical or logical thinking in lockstep fashion is necessary but not sufficient because we need not only the ability to critique ideas, but to create them. Creative or lateral thinking arrives at solutions by attacking problems "laterally" or "sideways." (DCS)

This article reviews the history of divergent thinking tests and provides a projection of current research suggesting a bright outlook for creativity tests. A model relating problem finding and problem solving is described, as are approaches to increasing test reliability. (DB)