Case Study

Based on the case context, explain the opposing, mutually exclusive predictions that the number-of-examples theory and the ease-of-retrieval theory make for this creativity study. Which group will rate themselves as more creative according to each theory, and what is the underlying reasoning?

Case context: A research team wants to replicate the design of the Schwarz et al. (1991) study to investigate how individuals judge their own creativity. They instruct one group of participants to list 66 times they acted creatively (an easy task) and another group to list 1212 times they acted creatively (a difficult task). The researchers want to clarify how the two competing theories predict different outcomes for these groups before collecting data.

Question: Based on the case context, explain the opposing, mutually exclusive predictions that the number-of-examples theory and the ease-of-retrieval theory make for this creativity study. Which group will rate themselves as more creative according to each theory, and what is the underlying reasoning?

Sample answer: The number-of-examples theory predicts that participants asked to recall 1212 examples will rate themselves as more creative because they retrieve a larger quantity of creative memories. In contrast, the ease-of-retrieval theory predicts that participants asked to recall 66 examples will rate themselves as more creative because the cognitive process of retrieving 66 examples is experienced as easy, which they attribute to having high creativity. Recalling 1212 examples is difficult, leading participants in that condition to conclude they are not very creative.

Key points:

  • Predicts that the number-of-examples theory favors the 1212-example group because they generate more evidence.
  • Predicts that the ease-of-retrieval theory favors the 66-example group because recalling fewer items feels easier.
  • Explains that difficulty in recalling 1212 examples leads to lower self-judgments of creativity under the ease-of-retrieval theory.
  • Highlights that the two theories make mutually exclusive predictions for the same experimental conditions.

Rubric: The response must explain both predictions: (1) number-of-examples theory predicts the 1212-example group will feel more creative due to the higher count of examples, and (2) ease-of-retrieval theory predicts the 66-example group will feel more creative due to the subjective ease of the recall process.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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