Creativity in Research - Essay Example

(Harnard quoted by Rwegasira, 2003). The most creative individuals like Einstein and Poincare relied on cerebral serendipity that can be defined as "gathering together the elements and constraints out of which a creative solution is (hoped) to arise and then consign the rest to the (unconscious) "combinanational play" of chance, with intuition perhaps helping to suggest which combination might be useful." (Rwegasira, 2003). Major point #3: Most of the time the creative process depends on the power of imagination and inspiration (hunches) much more than on a the use of logic or reason or a conscious effort.

Inspiration or lateral thinking is really needed for the creative process to be successful in finding valuable and new insights. Author's supporting evidence or exampl. Author's supporting evidence or examples for major point #3: Rwegasira (2003) points out that Plato emphasized the importance of inspiration in the creative process by signaling that inspiration is a product of imagination, and Cannon also attributes a very importan role to imagination and hunches in creativity. Rwegasira (2003) remarks that Poincare explains that even though formal logic methods are elementary and certain, they are not enough in the process of creativity.

Besides that, logic is unable to build a proof, which can be achieved with the help of intutition. The unskilled chess player is a clear example of the facts stated by Poincare. He/she knows how to move the pieces but doesn't understand how to play like a master.Major point #4: For imagination to be effective, the researcher should have an open and flexible frame of mind. Rwegasira (2003) states that "Creativity requires imagination and imagination requires freedom of mind in turn." Author's supporting evidence or examples for major point #4: Rwegasira (2003) gives some examples with dots forming triangles and circles, as well as drawing straight lines from 9 dots to point out that flexible and open thinking is necessary to take advantage of imagination.

Rwegasira (2003) also remarks not to have pre-conceptions on a problem or biases or attitudinal rigidity in order to use the power of imagination to enhance creativity. Being open in beliefs and reasonably independent in mind and decisions are necessary conditions for the researcher to be creative. In this line of thinking, "dogmatism, prejudices, bigotry, single-track-mindedness, conceptual foreclosure to experience and lack of freedom of thought and of self-expression are inimical to imagination and creativity."