Unleashing creative potential: Evaluating the impact of a cognitive-based creativity training program in the classroom

Abstract

While the evidence supporting cognitive-based creativity training as a means of enhancing creative thinking is increasing, its long-term effects and who can benefit from the training remain unclear. To address this gap, we developed a cognitive-based creativity training program for school-aged children and assessed its efficacy through pre-, post-, and follow-up tests, comparing the performance of two groups matched for working memory in the pre-test. One group (n = 33) underwent the training program, whereas the other group (n = 27) participated in the active control condition. The results showed that the training group exhibited significantly better creative thinking performance than the control group in the post-test. This difference was sustained over six months, and the improvement in creative thinking was independent of any changes in working memory, as determined using a subsample. In addition, individuals with lower levels of creative thinking performance before training gained more from training than those with higher levels.