ONLINE GROUP CREATIVITY: THE LINK BETWEEN THE ACTIVE PRODUCTION OF IDEAS AND PERSONALITY TRAITS

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J o u r n a l o f C y berTherapy & R e h a b i l i t a t i o n
Spr i n g 2 0 0 9 , Vol u m e 2 , I s s u e 1
© Vi r t u a l R e a l i t y Medic a l I n s t i t u t e

Titolo: ONLINE GROUP CREATIVITY: THE LINK BETWEEN THE ACTIVE PRODUCTION OF IDEAS AND PERSONALITY TRAITS

Autori
Roberta Zurlo e Giuseppe Riva

Corresponding Author:
Prof Giuseppe Riva, Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy and Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab., Istituto
Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
1Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy

Abstract
This article extends the findings in electronic brainstorming
about the impact of personality traits on productivity
and creativity in a web-based context of synchronous
electronic brainstorming (instant messaging,
MSN messenger). The sample included 60 students
(M= 20, F= 40, average age of 18 years old) from a
graphic advertising school. Participants were randomly
assigned to ten groups of six subjects each. Each group
was asked to solve the shipwreck task using MSN messenger
(text communication only), to identify which
objects and which actions were required to survive on a
desert island after a shipwreck.
Results showed that group productivity and group creativity
are strictly related both to the personality of the
users and to the characteristics of the communication
process. On the one hand, extroverted personality had a
positive influence on the active production of ideas
online. On the other, the choice of specific words able
to convey real-time feedback and strengthen discussion
was a predictor of productivity and creativity performance.
These findings provide some useful recommendations
for improving productivity and creativity in the
context of computer-supported collaborative tasks over
the Internet.