Cynthia Sifonis
This
course will focus on creativity largely from a cognitive perspective. The first session will focus on creativity in
the broad sense and consider various models and approaches. The next two
sessions will examine in more depth cognitive approaches to understanding
creative idea production. The fourth session will examine the unique aspects of
virtual worlds as places where creativity might be expressed and as places where
creativity might be studied. The final session will include application of
creativity principles to projects and problems.
Session 1: Creativity in
the Broad Sense: Approaches and Models
Required
readings:
Optional readings:
Kaufman, J. C., & Beghetto, R. A. (2009). Beyond big and little:
The Four C model of creativity. Review of
General Psychology, 13, 1-12.
Sternberg, R. J., & Lubart, T. I. (1996). Investing in
creativity, American Psychologist, 51, 677-688
Ward, T. B., &
Saunders, K. N. (2002). Creativity. In L. Nadel
(Ed.). Encyclopedia
of cognitive science.
Session 2: A Special
Focus on the Creative Cognition Approach
Required
reading:
Ward, T. B. (2007). Creative cognition as a window on creativity. Methods, 42, 28-37.
Optional
reading:
Ward,
T.B., Smith, S. M., & Finke, R. A. (1999). Creative
cognition. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.), Handbook of creativity (pp. 189-212).
Session 3: Near and Far
Analogies and the Creative Process
Required
readings:
Dunbar, K. (1997). How scientists think: On-line
creativity and conceptual change in science. In T. B. Ward, S. M. Smith, &
J. Vaid (Eds.), Creative
thought: An investigation of conceptual structures and processes (pp.
461-494).
Session 4: Creativity in
Virtual Environments
Required
reading:
Session 5: A Working
Session on Creative Applications
In
the final class session students will work collaboratively in small groups to
produce designs for research studies to investigate the cognitive processes
associated with creativity in virtual environments. No readings are assigned
for this session.
Seminars:
The
class sessions will be a mix of lecture, discussion and planning of
experiments.
Assessment:
Students
will be assessed on the basis of the research plans produced by the end of the
course.
Cynthia Sifonis
Cynthia Sifonis is an associate professor of Cognitive Psychology at Oakland University. Her research focuses on the interaction between the representation of category knowledge and how that knowledge is used to develop new ideas and products. This research takes several forms including research on how category knowledge influences and constrains performance in generation tasks and during analogical reasoning. Her research on applied analogical reasoning includes studies examining the effects of conceptual distance between analogy source and target domains on the quality of solutions generated for the target domain. This research has led to the development of methodologies that have been used to teach corporate executives how to use analogical reasoning to generate innovative business processes and products. Cynthia has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Creative Behavior as well as the International Journal of Creativity and Problem Solving