A Creativity-Training Workshop: Short-Term, Long-Term, and Transfer Effects

A creativity-training workshop utilizing instructions, practice, and reinforcement (team points toward a course grade) increased Ss' (N = 14 male and female undergraduates) behaviorally defined creative responses, fluency, flexibility, and originality on both unusual uses and problem solution exercises. Transfers of training effects were noted in subjective ratings of student papers written independently of the workshop. Additionally, the workshop procedures increased Ss' scores on the Torrance tests of creativity immediately after the workshop, an increase which was still apparent 11 months later during a follow-up. No comparable effects were noted in a control group.