Examining the effects of creativity training on creative production, creative self-efficacy, and neuro-executive functioning

• Published in: Thinking skills and creativity Vol. 31; pp. 70 - 78
• Main Authors: Vally, Zahir, Salloum, Leen, AlQedra, Dina, El Shazly, Sara, Albloshi, Maryam, Alsheraifi, Safeya, Alkaabi, Alia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Arab; Creative output; Creativity; Divergent thinking; Innovation; Middle East; Neuro-executive; Self-efficacy; Training; Training; Middle East; Innovation; Neuro-executive; Self-efficacy; Divergent thinking; Arab; Creativity; Creative output
• ISSN: 1871-1871; 1878-0423
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsc.2018.11.003

•Creativity training is an essential component of higher education in the United Arab Emirates.•Domain-general training in creativity enhances creative output as assessed using multiple outcome measures.•Following training in creativity, subjects’ capacity for self-monitoring of their performance improved. A plethora of evidence suggests that creativity can be enhanced following training. In the United Arab Emirates, where creativity and innovation are overtly promoted, especially among young adults, university students complete a semester-long course in creativity as part of their undergraduate degrees. The effectiveness of this course, however, remains undetermined. Thus, we examined, using a sample of 133 participants who completed the 13-week program, whether improvements to creative production, creative self-efficacy (CSE), and neuro-executive functioning would emerge. Pre to post-test differences were assessed and substantial improvements to originality, elaboration, and fluency were observed. CSE was enhanced. However, neuro-executive functioning remained unchanged following the program. These results contribute to the literature attesting to the efficacy of training in creativity skills.