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Creativity Supports Learning through Associative Thinking

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Title: Creativity Supports Learning through Associative Thinking
Language: English
Authors: Simone A. Luchini, James C. Kaufman, Benjamin Goecke, Oliver Wilhelm, Yoed N. Kenett, Daisy Lei, Mathias Benedek, Janet G. van Hell, Roger E. Beaty
Source: npj Science of Learning. 2025 10.
Availability: Nature Portfolio. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.nature.com/npjscilearn/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (DRL)
National Science Foundation (NSF), Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE)
National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS)
Contract Number: 2155070
1920653
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Creativity, 21st Century Skills, Associative Learning, Association (Psychology), Learning Strategies, Creative Thinking, Vocabulary Development, Second Language Learning, Language Tests, Creative Writing, Literary Genres, Freehand Drawing, Intelligence, Learning Processes
DOI: 10.1038/s41539-025-00334-1
ISSN: 2056-7936
Abstract: Creativity is a key 21st-century skill and a consistent predictor of academic learning outcomes. Despite decades of research on creativity and learning, little is known about the cognitive mechanisms underlying their relationship. In two studies, we examined whether creativity supports associative learning through associative thinking--the ability to generate novel word associations--an ability central to creativity which has not been previously tied to associative learning. In Study 1, we found that students who generated more novel word associations learned more words on a foreign language learning test 24 h later. In Study 2, we replicated and extended the effect to naturalistic creativity tasks (i.e., writing short stories and sketching line drawings), finding associative thinking mediated the relationship between creativity and associative learning. Importantly, both studies controlled for general intelligence. Our findings suggest that creativity's contribution to learning operates partly through a shared cognitive capacity for making new connections.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/rfjxs/?view_only=e772d03f07824b34960ca4f8d6006b12
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1476132
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Nature Portfolio. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://www.nature.com/npjscilearn/
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  Data: Creativity is a key 21st-century skill and a consistent predictor of academic learning outcomes. Despite decades of research on creativity and learning, little is known about the cognitive mechanisms underlying their relationship. In two studies, we examined whether creativity supports associative learning through associative thinking--the ability to generate novel word associations--an ability central to creativity which has not been previously tied to associative learning. In Study 1, we found that students who generated more novel word associations learned more words on a foreign language learning test 24 h later. In Study 2, we replicated and extended the effect to naturalistic creativity tasks (i.e., writing short stories and sketching line drawings), finding associative thinking mediated the relationship between creativity and associative learning. Importantly, both studies controlled for general intelligence. Our findings suggest that creativity's contribution to learning operates partly through a shared cognitive capacity for making new connections.
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  Data: 2025
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