Wigert and teammates probed core elements of the creative process. They report that “The process of problem construction is known to be a critical influence on creative problem-solving. The current study assessed the utility of different problem construction methods used to maximize creativity during the creative process. An experimental design was used to explore the interplay between convergent and divergent thinking processes. Participants were asked to creatively solve an ill-defined problem under four conditions that varied in their combinations of instruction to engage in divergent and convergent thinking. Findings indicated that engaging in divergent thinking, followed by a convergent thinking method during the problem construction process results in more creative solutions than using only methods associated with divergent thinking.”
Benjamin Wigert, Vignesh Murugavel, and Roni Reiter-Palmon. “The Utility of Divergent and Convergent Thinking in the Problem Construction Processes During Creative Problem-Solving.” Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts, in press, https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000513