Synergy between Diversity and Similarity in Group-Idea Generation

Abstract

This article is a report of two experiments that were conducted to investigate the creative performance of groups during idea-generation sessions. The hypothesis was that groups in which higher levels of both member diversity and similarity of thought categories were combined would show greater gains in creative performance. In Study 1, the participants (n = 168) were assigned to 56 three-person groups and performed an inventive creativity task. The results supported the hypothesis. Forty-one three-person groups, which consisted solely of female participants (n = 123) performed an ameliorative creativity task in Study 2. The hypothesis was again confirmed. These results suggest that a form of synergy between diversity and similarity operates in group creativity.

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