4%
Results indicate that the more highly constrained the task demands, the greater the proportion of creative inventions produced. Appears counter-intuitive, but does parallel some observations of creative thinking in real world, i.e. -product constraints in design -scientific theories constrained by need to account for empirical data -effect of constraints on artistic creativity
DO ALL FORMS OF TASK CONSTRAINT INCREASE THE PRODUCTION OF CREATIVE INVENTIONS? Finke carried out a second experiment in which either the type of object or its function were randomly assigned. Condition 1: component parts randomly selected for each trial, and within an object category a specific type of object was randomly selected; i.e., chair, or table etc. Condition 2: component parts randomly selected, and within an object category a specific function was randomly assigned; i.e., a piece of furniture a handicapped person could use, or a weapon that uses light.
Type Random, Parts Random Function Random, Parts Random Practical Inventions 21%29% Creative Inventions 6%14%
Specifying a random type of object rather than random function severely limits the number of creative inventions produced. Features contained in basic object types are very specialised (Rosch et al., 1976). E.g., a chair must allow you to sit on it. May not be possible to include all of these features when components are specified at random. Random functions allow a greater variety of possible features and object types to be considered.
Preinventive Forms Novel and ambiguous forms may be more likely to contain unexpected emergent properties than forms created with specific object categories or functions in mind. An experiment was carried out to test this hypothesis: Stage 1: participants are given one minute to mentally synthesise a preinventive form from three randomly selected components.
Stage 2: participants randomly presented with one of the eight basic object categories, and have one minute to interpret their preinventive form as a practical object or device within that category. Preinventive form condition contrasted with two other conditions; one in which participants chose the object category, another in which it was randomly selected. In both cases the object category was defined prior to mental synthesis taking place. Finke added a highly creative classification, which was for those objects which achieved maximum scores on both practicality and originality scales.
Category Chosen Category random Preinventive Form Practical Inventions 53%49%34% Creative Inventions 9%14%18% Highly Creative 3%4%7%
Results showed that participants produced a greater proportion of creative and highly creative inventions when they decided the basic form of object prior to knowing what function it was expected to perform. Inventions displayed an Illusion of Intentionality -Form perceived as being constructed specifically for the function it performs.
These results runs counter to the accepted maxim that form follows function Finke suggests a reversal of this, in which creativity is enhanced by establishing a basic preinventive form prior to the specification of function; i.e., function follows form.
Sydney Opera House Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon
Form in Architectural Design American architect Frank Lloyd Wright was originator of concept of organic architecture. Felt design of buildings should be inspired by pre-existing forms in nature.
Creative Synthesis Finke regards insight as the basis of creative thought. 1.Convergent – a set of data is unified into a new pattern or structure. 2.Divergent – new uses are found for an existing pattern or structure. Finke argues divergent insight produces the most creative thought.
Model consists of two distinct processing components; a generative phase, followed by an exploratory phase. Generative phase consists of construction of preinventive forms. In exploratory phase individual tries to interpret these preinventive forms in meaningful ways. Creative thinking initiates a geneplore cycle in which preinventive forms are continually generated