The impact of watching science fiction on the creativity of individuals: The role of STEM background

Veronica Marozzo, Antonio Crupi, Tindara Abbate, Fabrizio Cesaroni and Vincenzo Corvello

Technovation, 2024, vol. 132, issue C

Abstract: This paper delves into the intersection of science fiction, creativity, and individuals' backgrounds, with a special emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education. We investigate if individuals with a STEM background show a more pronounced creative impact from watching science fiction compared to their non-STEM counterparts. We conducted an experimental study involving 204 university students from various disciplines, both STEM and non-STEM, randomly assigned to one of two conditions—watching a science fiction TV episode or a non-science fiction episode—followed by a creative task. The solutions proposed by the students were assessed for their level of creativity. Our findings reveal that the students with a STEM background were more creatively impacted by the exposure to science fiction. These insights hold significant implications for educators, policy-makers, and professionals interested in fostering creativity, suggesting the need for tailored approaches based on an individual's background and a potential role for science fiction in stimulating creative thinking.

Keywords: Science fiction; Creativity; Innovation; Individuals' background; Experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:techno:v:132:y:2024:i:c:s0166497224000440

DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2024.102994

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