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Selected Topics in Creativity Research

Exam number: 6793

Semester: from 1st semester

Duration of the module: One semester

Form of the module (i.e. obligatory, elective etc.): Elective

Frequency of module offer: Winter semester 2018/2019

Prerequisites: To register for the seminar you have to send an E-Mail to Philipp Barth (barth@europa-uni.de).

Afterwards, you will be registered automatically by our chair in the Moodle system. You cannot enroll for this course via the Moodle system by yourself. All mandatory classes will take place on a weekly basis in Block 1. Attending classes during Block 2 is voluntary.

Capacity limit: 20 students

  • Good knowledge in innovation management.
  • Distinct interest in creativity- and research-related topics.
  • Students should be able to interpret empirical data and be familiar with the application of empirical research methods. For example, students should be able to run their own regressions, compute and interpret t-statistics and determine confidence intervals.
  • Good knowledge of Excel or statistical software such as “R” or STATA

Applicability of module for other study programmes:
Obligatory or elective in other study programmes. For further information check regulations of the study programme.

Person responsible for module: Prof. Dr. Georg Stadtmann

Name of the professor: Prof. Dr. Georg Stadtmann

Language of teaching: English

ECTS-Credits (based on the workload): 6

Workload and its composition (self-study, contact time):
Contact time (lecture, tutorials, seminar etc.) 21 h; self-study: 159 h

Contact hours (per week in semester): 2

Methods and duration of examination:

  • 10 % of the final grade: Weekly reading quizzes starting from class 2.
  • 40 % of the final grade: Presentation on a meeting January 10, 2019 (room and time to be announced).
  • 50 % of the final grade: Final essay of around 10 pages text. The essay is due on February 22, 2019.
  • Both tasks can be done in groups of two students.
  • All students have to actively participate when their group has to present its solution. In case that a student does not take an active role in the presentation or is absent, the student can only earn 50 % of the credit of the group.
  • Only relevant for regular enrolled students in the “very” old study program: To achieve credits as T-module (7 ECTS Credits), another essay (pass-fail) of 5 pages has to be written. Please let us know until October 31, 2018, if you would like to use this option.

Emphasis of the grade for the final grade: Please check regulations of the study programme

Aim of the module (expected learning outcomes and competencies to be acquired):
Unemployment rates are still very high in some EU countries like Greece, Spain or Portugal. One instrument to fight unemployment is the so-called “Growth Strategy” for Europe, where especially innovation should lead to new employment opportunities. But where should these innovations stem from? One answer is that well educated people, trained in “creativity methods”, could be an engine for innovation. Therefore, we want to offer a research seminar in the field of Creativity Research. The topic can broadly be sorted into the field of empirical economics.

After successfully completing the course, students should be able to: 

Demonstrate knowledge about the meaning and measurement of creativity, important models of creativity, as well as empirical research on selected aspects of creativity:

  • Have a good understanding of the meaning of creativity, potential measurement techniques, and research designs.
  • Have a good understanding of the most important models of creativity and their implications.
  • Have a good understanding of the assumptions characterizing each model and be able to compare models on the basis of their assumptions.
  • Have a good understanding of social and environmental influences on creativity and of results of empirical research addressing selected aspects of creativity.
 
Demonstrate skills that enable students to:

  • Apply their knowledge to the reading and analysis of journal articles in the literature covered.
  • Analyze complex micro problems by applying several theoretical or empirical methods.
  • Conclude about appropriate managerial response in the different settings, especially concerning the enhancement of creativity.
 
Demonstrate competences that enable students to:

  • Apply their knowledge to other contexts, like news from the media, figures released in the press or in the statistics.
  • Describe and explain their solution of case studies in a written or oral way.

Contents of the module:

  • Indisvidual creativity
  • Team creativity
  • Creativity in organizations
  • Meaning and measurement of creativity
  • Techniques for assessment of creativity
  • Models of creativity
  • Social and environmental influences on creativity
  • Implications for enhancing creativity

Teaching and learning methods:
Lecture, seminar, group presentations, group discussions, reading quizzes

Literature (compulsory reading, recommended literature):

  • Amabile, Teresa M. How to kill creativity. Harvard Business Review, September-October 1998, 77 – 87.
  • Amabile, Teresa M. (1996) Creativity in Context, Westview Press, Boulder, CO.
  • George, Jennifer M. (2007) 9 Creativity in Organizations, The Academy of Management Annals, 1:1, 439-477, DOI: 10.1080/078559814
  • Further literature to be announced.

Further information:
Students are expected to complete assigned readings before each class, to actively engage in class discussions and to hold a short presentation (10 minute) on a pre-announced research paper at least once during the semester.

All classes that require mandatory physical presence will take place in Block 1 of the semester. Students will learn the foundations they need to be able to write their final essay. In Block 2, students will have time to complete their final essays and will not be required to attend classes, but can attend on a voluntary basis.

The final essay has to follow the structure of a scientific paper:

  • Front page, table of contents, list of figures, list of tables, list of abbreviations, variables, indices.
  • All equations have to be numbered consecutively.
  • References as usual and a list of references in the end of a paper.
  • Students have to follow the usual rules with respect to academic honesty. Especially, we expect that students do not use any material (Solutions from previous classes, papers written for different classes) without referencing appropriately.

Registration via E-Mail required.