Effects of Stress on Convergent and Divergent Thinking in Males and Females
A 4-month long research exploration through rigorous cognitive science experimentation to understand how the effects of stress manifest themselves in males vs females as part of the two most popular creative thinking strains - convergent and divergent thinking.
A 4-month long research exploration through rigorous cognitive science experimentation to understand how the effects of stress manifest themselves in males vs females as part of the two most popular creative thinking strains - convergent and divergent thinking.
A 4-month long research exploration through rigorous cognitive science experimentation to understand how the effects of stress manifest themselves in males vs females as part of the two most popular creative thinking strains - convergent and divergent thinking.
Jump To
Abstract . Final Presentation . Contributions . Challenges and Takeaways
MY ROLE
Literature Review: 30+ hours of participant observation on the Subreddit. This involved participating in discussions, reading and posting questions and comments on the sub, answering questions and messaging participants.
Experiment Design: Designed and conducted 3 semi-structured interviews to understand participants' experiences on the subreddit and as part of the community.
Conducting Experiments: I transcribed, reviewed and coded the interviews to analyze emerging categories about participant behaviors.
Data analysis: I transcribed, reviewed and coded the interviews to analyze emerging categories about participant behaviors.
RESEARCH SCOPE
Jan - Apr '23 (4 months)
Tulika Banerjee
Ramyani Ghosh
Upasana Bhattacharjee
Vaibhav Kumar
TOOLS/SKILLS
Experiment design, data analysis, cognitive science experimentation, surveys, fitness tracking
KEYWORDS
stress, creativity, cognitive science, convergent thinking, divergent thinking, alternative uses test, remote associates test, problem solving
MY ROLE
Literature Review: 30+ hours of participant observation on the Subreddit. This involved participating in discussions, reading and posting questions and comments on the sub, answering questions and messaging participants.
Experiment Design: Designed and conducted 3 semi-structured interviews to understand participants' experiences on the subreddit and as part of the community.
Conducting Experiments: I transcribed, reviewed and coded the interviews to analyze emerging categories about participant behaviors.
Data analysis: I transcribed, reviewed and coded the interviews to analyze emerging categories about participant behaviors.
RESEARCH SCOPE
Jan - Apr '23 (4 months)
Tulika Banerjee
Ramyani Ghosh
Upasana Bhattacharjee
Vaibhav Kumar
TOOLS/SKILLS
Experiment design, data analysis, cognitive science experimentation, surveys, fitness tracking
Jump To
Abstract . Final Presentation . Contributions . Challenges and Takeaways
KEYWORDS
stress, creativity, cognitive science, convergent thinking, divergent thinking, alternative uses test, remote associates test, problem solving
MY ROLE
Literature Review: 30+ hours of participant observation on the Subreddit. This involved participating in discussions, reading and posting questions and comments on the sub, answering questions and messaging participants.
Experiment Design: Designed and conducted 3 semi-structured interviews to understand participants' experiences on the subreddit and as part of the community.
Conducting Experiments: I transcribed, reviewed and coded the interviews to analyze emerging categories about participant behaviors.
Data analysis: I transcribed, reviewed and coded the interviews to analyze emerging categories about participant behaviors.
RESEARCH SCOPE
Jan - Apr '23 (4 months)
Tulika Banerjee
Ramyani Ghosh
Upasana Bhattacharjee
Vaibhav Kumar
TOOLS/SKILLS
Experiment design, data analysis, cognitive science experimentation, surveys, fitness tracking
KEYWORDS
stress, creativity, cognitive science, convergent thinking, divergent thinking, alternative uses test, remote associates test, problem solving
Jump To
Abstract . Final Presentation . Contributions . Challenges and Takeaways
Abstract
Abstract
Convergent and Divergent thinking are two of the most popular approaches to problem solving, creative thinking and decision making. Human creativity has long been a subject of interest to cognitive scientists. To further understand creative thinking abilities, it is important to recognize the effects of stress on them.
We studied how induced stress affects the cognitive processes of convergent and divergent thinking and further identified differences in the impact observed on males and females.
We analyzed both kinds of creative thinking through standard tests and observed the differences in individuals’ performances with induced stress and without.
Our results showed that both males and females registered a decrease in their performance as a result of induced stress.
Furthermore, we tested our hypotheses that these said effects are observably different in males and females, noting that males showed a greater negative impact on their problem-solving abilities as compared to females when exposed to stress.
Convergent and Divergent thinking are two of the most popular approaches to problem solving, creative thinking and decision making. Human creativity has long been a subject of interest to cognitive scientists. To further understand creative thinking abilities, it is important to recognize the effects of stress on them.
We studied how induced stress affects the cognitive processes of convergent and divergent thinking and further identified differences in the impact observed on males and females.
We analyzed both kinds of creative thinking through standard tests and observed the differences in individuals’ performances with induced stress and without.
Our results showed that both males and females registered a decrease in their performance as a result of induced stress.
Furthermore, we tested our hypotheses that these said effects are observably different in males and females, noting that males showed a greater negative impact on their problem-solving abilities as compared to females when exposed to stress.
Contributions
Contributions
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Students have limited time available to them. With so many events happening around campus, it is impossible for them to keep track of them all and hence, students miss out on events of importance to them and lose out on a holistic campus experience.
Students have limited time available to them. With so many events happening around campus, it is impossible for them to keep track of them all and hence, students miss out on events of importance to them and lose out on a holistic campus experience.
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It is crucial that alerts and campus-wide notifications reach students on time, especially in emergencies. Other times, receiving notifications on time can save valuable time and energy.
It is crucial that alerts and campus-wide notifications reach students on time, especially in emergencies. Other times, receiving notifications on time can save valuable time and energy.
Challenges & Takeaways
Challenges & Takeaways
Wearing many hats
Unlike most hackathons, we did not have the ability to choose our own teams and were assigned to a team of four based on a business chemistry test. We were effectively strangers with a common goal.
Given the short timeframe of the challenge, this implied instantly assessing our diverse skillsets and interests for efficient work distribution and tuning ourselves to be on the same wavelength. Moreover, our schedules made it difficult for us to meet in person, reinforcing strong active communication.
Wearing many hats
Unlike most hackathons, we did not have the ability to choose our own teams and were assigned to a team of four based on a business chemistry test. We were effectively strangers with a common goal.
Given the short timeframe of the challenge, this implied instantly assessing our diverse skillsets and interests for efficient work distribution and tuning ourselves to be on the same wavelength. Moreover, our schedules made it difficult for us to meet in person, reinforcing strong active communication.
Wearing many hats
Unlike most hackathons, we did not have the ability to choose our own teams and were assigned to a team of four based on a business chemistry test. We were effectively strangers with a common goal.
Given the short timeframe of the challenge, this implied instantly assessing our diverse skillsets and interests for efficient work distribution and tuning ourselves to be on the same wavelength. Moreover, our schedules made it difficult for us to meet in person, reinforcing strong active communication.
Stakeholders, stakeholders, stakeholders
The Innovation challenge took place in the middle of finals week, and we found ourselves juggling this along with classes and exams. As such, one of our teammates dropped out of the challenge, leaving us with a team of three.
I took the initiative to coordinate our schedules and fill in for work if one of my teammates was held up. This truly challenged and honed my time management skills.
Stakeholders, stakeholders, stakeholders
The Innovation challenge took place in the middle of finals week, and we found ourselves juggling this along with classes and exams. As such, one of our teammates dropped out of the challenge, leaving us with a team of three.
I took the initiative to coordinate our schedules and fill in for work if one of my teammates was held up. This truly challenged and honed my time management skills.
Stakeholders, stakeholders, stakeholders
The Innovation challenge took place in the middle of finals week, and we found ourselves juggling this along with classes and exams. As such, one of our teammates dropped out of the challenge, leaving us with a team of three.
I took the initiative to coordinate our schedules and fill in for work if one of my teammates was held up. This truly challenged and honed my time management skills.
©2024 Tulika Banerjee
©2024 Tulika Banerjee
©2024 Tulika Banerjee