Question 1

Fixations and functional fixedness are specific types of

Accepted Answer

Fixations and functional fixedness are specific types of mental sets, where an individual's thinking is constrained to using objects only in the way they are traditionally used, or they are stuck in a specific way of thinking about a problem.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about enhancing creativity is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Restating a problem in different ways can help in looking at the problem from different perspectives, which in turn can lead to more creative solutions. This approach encourages divergent thinking, a key aspect of creativity.

Question 3

In order to find new ways to open a can, a group leader asks his team of inventors to think of "opening," in general, rather than asking them to come up with a better way to open a can. In doing so, this group leader will

Accepted Answer

By asking the team to think of "opening" in general, the group leader encourages them to think beyond the conventional methods and potentially come up with more creative solutions, thus broadly defining the problem to stimulate creative thinking.

Question 4

The essence of brainstorming is that

Accepted Answer

The essence of brainstorming is to generate as many ideas as possible without immediate judgment or evaluation, ensuring a wide range of ideas are considered. This approach separates the creative process of producing ideas from the critical process of evaluating them.

Question 5

When brainstorming is applied to individual problem solving, the essential point to remember is to

Accepted Answer

Suspending judgment is crucial in brainstorming to allow for the free flow of ideas without the inhibition that comes from immediate critique or analysis. This encourages a wide range of ideas, some of which might be innovative solutions to the problem at hand.

Question 6

According to your textbook, which of the following questions would be the LEAST likely to lead to a creative solution?

Accepted Answer

Option B, "What is the one best answer for solving this problem?" is the least likely to lead to a creative solution because it limits thinking to a single solution rather than encouraging exploration of multiple possibilities or perspectives.

Question 7

When you approach a problem-solving situation by asking a group to produce as many ideas as possible without criticism, you are

Accepted Answer

This approach is known as brainstorming, where the goal is to generate a large quantity of ideas in order to find a solution to a problem, without immediate criticism or judgment, to encourage creativity and participation from all members of the group.

Question 8

Which of the following tends to inhibit creativity in the initial stages?

Accepted Answer

Worrying about the correctness of solutions can inhibit creativity in the initial stages by limiting exploration and the consideration of novel or unconventional ideas.

Question 9

The cross-stimulation effect in brainstorming refers to

Accepted Answer

The cross-stimulation effect in brainstorming refers to the phenomenon where one person's ideas inspire or trigger ideas in another person, enhancing the creative process and leading to a more productive brainstorming session.

Question 10

A problem is presented in the textbook that involves arranging six matches to make four triangles. The triangles must be the same size, and each side must be equal to the length of one match. Most people are initially unable to solve this problem because they assume incorrectly that the matches must be arranged on a flat surface rather in a three-dimensional pyramid shape. This incorrect assumption illustrates how which of the following can be a major barrier to creative thinking?

Accepted Answer

The incorrect assumption that the matches must be arranged on a flat surface rather than in a three-dimensional shape illustrates a mental set, which is a tendency to approach problems in a particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past. This can be a major barrier to creative thinking because it limits the thinker to familiar strategies and prevents them from considering alternative approaches.

Question 11

When ideas are freely generated during brainstorming, it encourages

Accepted Answer

During brainstorming, the free generation of ideas encourages the cross-stimulation effect, where one person's ideas inspire others to come up with new, related ideas, enhancing creativity and problem-solving.

Question 12

The method of creative thinking that separates the production and evaluation of ideas is called

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming is a method of creative thinking that encourages the free flow of ideas in a group setting, separating the generation of ideas from their evaluation to promote open and uninhibited participation.

Question 13

Which of the following is a major barrier to creative thinking and can lead us to see a problem in preconceived terms that impede our problem-solving attempts?

Accepted Answer

Forming a mental set refers to the tendency to approach problems in a particular way, often based on past experiences and successes. This can limit creative thinking by making it difficult to see alternative solutions or novel approaches to a problem, as it confines thinking to preconceived patterns and methods.

Question 14

When applying brainstorming to individual problem solving, these ideas should be initially produced without regard to

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming encourages the free flow of ideas without initially being constrained by concerns about accuracy, logic, practicality, or organization. This approach helps in generating creative solutions by not limiting the thought process.

Question 15

In brainstorming, the tendency of one person's ideas to trigger ideas from others is known as

Accepted Answer

The cross-stimulation effect refers to the phenomenon in brainstorming where one person's ideas inspire or trigger ideas in others, leading to a more productive and creative idea-generation session.

Question 16

A problem is presented in the textbook that involves connecting nine dots arranged in a square using four continuous lines drawn without lifting the pencil. Most people are initially unable to solve this problem because they assume incorrectly that they are not allowed to extend the lines beyond the square formed by the dots. This incorrect assumption illustrates how which of the following can be major barrier to creative thinking?

Accepted Answer

The incorrect assumption that lines cannot extend beyond the square formed by the dots is an example of a mental set, which is a tendency to approach problems in a particular way, often based on past experiences and habits. This can be a barrier to creative thinking because it limits the ability to see alternative solutions.

Question 17

A supervisor is given the problem to design a better doorway and presents this task to his employees by asking them to "devise ways to define separate areas for living and working." The supervisor's revised task for his employees will

Accepted Answer

By broadly defining the problem, the supervisor allows for a wide range of creative solutions, encouraging employees to think outside the box and approach the problem from various angles.

Question 18

Mandy has been commissioned to paint a mural representing her hometown. Mandy walks around the town, looks in the archives at the local newspaper, and talks to town residents about their memories of living in the town. To solve the problem of what to paint, Mandy is

Accepted Answer

Mandy is seeking varied input by exploring her town, researching archives, and talking to residents, which is a method to encourage creativity by incorporating diverse perspectives and ideas into her work.

Question 19

Dr. Selman is using a method in her class that encourages creative thinking and that involves having the students to produce as many ideas as possible without fear of criticism. Dr. Selman is using

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming is a method used to generate a large number of ideas for the solution to a problem with a focus on quantity over quality and without immediate criticism or judgment, encouraging free and creative thinking.

Question 20

Tenisha has to write a major term paper in psychology. So, she begins by writing as many ideas as she can think of regarding the topics that interest her most in psychology. She lets her imagination run wild, seeking unusual, remote, and wild ideas. She will modify and combine these ideas freely and will not criticize any of the ideas until she has elaborated or improved on the most promising ideas. Tenisha is using which of the following techniques in choosing a topic for her term paper?

Accepted Answer

Tenisha is using brainstorming, a technique that involves generating a large number of ideas without immediate criticism or evaluation, allowing for creativity and the exploration of unconventional ideas.

Quiz 8: Cognition, Language, and Creativity