Linking variance and selection-focused behavior and cognitive flexibility and persistence

Abstract

This research extends previous literature by finding links between the behavioral factor and cognitive thinking styles to promote creativity and to gain an insight into the creative process. We have focused on the relationship between two creative behaviors, variance- and selection-focused behaviors, and the cognitive framework Dual Pathway to Creativity Model to observe this relationship. 216 full-time employees were recruited through the MTurk platform and was given a survey that measured for creative behavior, creativity, and two cognitive pathways, cognitive persistence and cognitive flexibility. Our findings showed that variance-focused behavior has a positive significant relationship with cognitive flexibility whereas selection-focused behavior has a negative significant relationship with cognitive flexibility. In other words, when individuals are variance-focused they are thinking flexibly as opposed to when they are behaving selection-focused.