Comparing the efficacy of four brief inductions in boosting short-term creativity

Augmenting creative performance has the potential to benefit both the individual and our society. Several studies have evaluated the impact of different behavioral training or induction methods on creativity. However, the findings are mixed and sometimes contradictory. Four different short-term induction methods which differed along two information processing dimensions – modality and demand – were compared within a single experimental paradigm alongside a non-induction control condition to determine which was the most effective at improving creativity. A comparison on the experimental inductions revealed that low demand induction methods boosted creativity more than high demand induction methods. However, this pattern was not maintained when comparisons included the non-induction control. These findings provide insights on factors that need to be taken into account at the level of experimental design in order to be able to evaluate the efficacy of different induction and training methods on creativity.