The paradox of promoting creativity in the Asian classroom: An empirical investigation

• Main Authors: NG, Aik Kwang, SMITH, Ian
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2004
• Subjects: Confucian tradition of learning; Conservative-autocratic; Individualism-collectivism; Liberal-democratic; Applied Behavior Analysis; Education; Social Psychology
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3277; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/4534/viewcontent/Paradox_Promoting_Creativity_Asian_Classroom_pv.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

To shed light on the paradox of promoting creativity in the Asian classroom, the authors conducted 3 studies. The 1st study found that novice teachers classified student behaviors as desirable but uncreative (DBU) versus creative but undesirable (CBU). The 2nd study found that conservative-autocratic teachers were more likely to encourage DBU behaviors in class, whereas liberal-democratic teachers were more likely to encourage CBU behaviors in class. The 3rd study found that cultural individualism—collectivism had a positive impact on liberal—democratic teaching attitude but a negative impact on conservative—autocratic teaching attitude. In turn, liberal—democratic teaching attitude had a positive impact on the tendency to promote CBU behaviors, whereas conservative—autocratic teaching attitude had a positive impact on the tendency to promote DBU behaviors.