Unleashing Creativity: The Paradoxical Role of Boredom in Enhancing Adaptors' Creative Performance
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2023-07-11
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en
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This research examined the relationship between adaptive cognitive style and creative performance along with the moderating influence of boredom. The study used an online experimental design where participants were either exposed to a boredom-inducing task or assigned to a control group. The product improvement task was used to measure creative performance. The Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory (KAI) was used to measure participants' cognitive styles. Previous literature suggested that adaptors, who prefer established knowledge and procedures, tend to exhibit lower levels of creativity. However, the study did not find a significant negative relationship between adaptive cognitive style and creative performance. Surprisingly, it discovered that boredom can enhance creativity across different cognitive styles, including adaptors. However, boredom did not weaken the negative relationship between an adaptor's cognitive style and creative performance as anticipated. These findings suggest that adaptors can leverage boredom to boost their creativity, and boredom has a complex role as a moderating variable between cognitive style and creative performance. The study suggests possibilities for future research, such as using the full KAI, replicating the study in work settings, and exploring the impact of other emotional states on creative performance, particularly for adaptors. Understanding the effects of boredom and cognitive styles on creativity has practical implications for fostering creativity in competitive business environments.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen