Dependence on Creativity Characteristics as Observed during the Implementation of Laboratory Activities

Abstract

A person’s creativity can be elicited through observations made upon his/her behaviour and personality characteristics which are in turn termed as creativity characteristics. Physics Practical Work (PPW) is a form of instruction which is intended to foster a creative culture in schools in which large numbers of students can be engaged in an environment where creativity flourishes. However, there are criticisms leveled against the effectiveness of PPW in developing creativity among students as indicated by the emergence of the creativity characteristics. Besides being involved in PPW as a requirement of the course SPN3231, 12 respondents of the study comprising final year undergraduate physics education students participated in a Physics Innovative Project (PIP) whereby they had to modify or devise an alternative method(s) for teaching physics topics which they had earlier conducted in PPW. Seven dominant creativity characteristics constructs were incorporated into a well-validated Structured Interview Checklist (27 items) and an Observation Checklist (37 items). All data were analysed using the Interactive Qualitative Analysis Model by Miles and Huberman (1994). Results of the study indicated that PIP fostered frequent emergence of creativity characteristics much better as compared to PPW.