Leiden University Student Repository

Ramos, Alba (2021)

The relationship between inhibitory control, mathematical creativity and its subcomponents, moderated by gender

Bachelor thesis | Psychologie (BSc)

The aim of the present study was to explore whether there is an association between inhibitory control and mathematical creativity or its subcomponents of flexibility, fluency and originality, hypothesizing that a positive association between the set of variables exists. Additionally, it aimed to determine if gender has a moderating effect on such associations, hypothesizing that gender does act as a moderating variable. The goal of the research was to better understand creativity so that educators and parents can be informed about strategies on how to better foster creativity in children and what the benefits of doing so are. 341 Dutch primary school children (Mage = 9.67) participated in the study, completing a test battery containing different tasks aimed to measure executive functioning, mathematical ability, creativity and intelligence. A correlation matrix and moderation analyses were used to explore the associations between all variables and gender as a moderator. Results...Show moreThe aim of the present study was to explore whether there is an association between inhibitory control and mathematical creativity or its subcomponents of flexibility, fluency and originality, hypothesizing that a positive association between the set of variables exists. Additionally, it aimed to determine if gender has a moderating effect on such associations, hypothesizing that gender does act as a moderating variable. The goal of the research was to better understand creativity so that educators and parents can be informed about strategies on how to better foster creativity in children and what the benefits of doing so are. 341 Dutch primary school children (Mage = 9.67) participated in the study, completing a test battery containing different tasks aimed to measure executive functioning, mathematical ability, creativity and intelligence. A correlation matrix and moderation analyses were used to explore the associations between all variables and gender as a moderator. Results showed that only the subcomponent of fluency was significantly correlated with inhibitory control and that gender was not a significant moderator. However, considering the limitations of the methods used to measure inhibition and creativity, future research requires to look beyond just measures of divergent mathematical creativity and to possibly investigate the directionality of the relationship to provide more concrete evidence to help facilitate cognitive and creative abilities in children.Show less

Author

Ramos, Alba

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Supervisors

Stolte, M.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en