Reconsidering Brainstorming
Keywords: Brainstorming, brainwriting, electronic brainstorming, evaluation apprehension, idea generation, process blocking
Publication Type:
Journal ArticleSource:
Group Facilitation: A Reseach and Applications Journal, International Association of Facilitators, Volume 1, Issue 1, p.12 (1999)URL:
http://www.iaf-world.org/files/members/V1Journal.pdfKeywords:
Brainstorming; electronic brainstorming; brainwriting; idea generation; process blocking; evaluation apprehensionAbstract:
Brainstorming is reviewed in face-to-face and electronic contexts. Comparing brainstorming as it was initially defined to how
it has been studied reveals several important differences. The accumulated research evidence indicates that face-to-face
brainstorming groups produce fewer ideas than nominal groups (i.e., individuals who generate ideas without interacting with
other ideators). More recent research indicates that electronic brainstorming groups generate more ideas than do nominal
groups. Increasing group size inhibits the performance of face-to-face brainstorming yet facilitates the performance of electronic
brainstorming. Process blocking and evaluation apprehension appear to provide the fullest explanation of this phenomenon.
Suggestions are made for facilitators who use brainstorming and for future research.
