An experimental study of the effectiveness of brainstorming

Abstract

In the study of conditions favorable to creativity 2 different ways of conducting brainstorming groups were compared. 3 groups each composed of 7 university students were given instructions to uncritically invent names for 3 kinds of articles; 3 other groups of students each composed of 7 persons were given instructions to also invent names for the same articles only to do so critically. 150 different students rated the invented names of both groups for quality. "For each product, the noncritical condition produced a greater number or responses than the critical condition… . If it is the purpose of problem solving to produce a specific number of ideas of highest possible quality, these best ideas will tend to be of higher or equal quality when the noncritical method is used." From Psyc Abstracts 36:02:2HD45W. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)