70 Years of Research into Creativity: J.P. Guilford’s Role and Today’s Focus (KIE Creativity Book Series)

70 Years of Research into Creativity: J.P. Guilford’s Role and Today’s FocusWhat can uncertainty teach us about creativity?In a world marked by crises, complexity, and profound unpredictability, 70 Years of Research into Creativity takes us back to a pivotal moment that shaped modern creativity studies: J.P. Guilford’s 1950 APA Presidential Address. That speech not only called attention to the neglect of creativity in psychological research—it launched a movement.Seventy years later, this volume revisits Guilford’s landmark contribution while exploring the current landscape of creativity research, education, and application. From Guilford’s foundational concepts to today’s most pressing global challenges, this book makes the case that uncertainty is not an obstacle but a gateway to creative growth.The opening chapter sets the tone with a call to embrace "actionable uncertainty"—those moments of doubt and complexity that compel us to imagine new possibilities. This is followed by chapters demonstrating how creativity can be cultivated in education, music, language learning, teacher development, and even health. Together, these essays illuminate how possibility thinking—framed by Guilford’s legacy—can help individuals and institutions move from what is to what could be.Inside This Volume:Fredricka Reisman (Chp. 1) outlines how Guilford’s vision offers tools for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic injustice, and other modern crises.Severino (Chp. 2) shows how educators can balance academic rigor with nurturing creativity in diverse learners.Wilson & Brown and Ponella (Chps. 3 & 11) explore how collaborative musical creativity transforms student learning.Corso & Gluth (Chp. 4) propose that developing creative capacity should be central in higher education policy and practice.Scott (Chp. 5) builds a creative pedagogical model based on Guilford’s principles to support English language learners.Suss (Chp. 6) reimagines schools as incubators of creativity and innovation.Kapoor, Tagat, & Prayogshala (Chp. 7) examine the untapped potential of big data in creativity research.Sledge (Chp. 8) introduces a heuristic framework to foster creativity in architectural education.Sisk (Chp. 9) reflects on Guilford’s mentorship and its cascading impact on generations of scholars.Rochlin (Chp. 10) examines how professional development can empower teachers to support creative learning.Each chapter serves as a response to the new “clarion call” for creativity scholars and practitioners—to approach today’s uncertainties not with fear or quick fixes, but with courage, imagination, and principled creativity. This volume doesn’t merely celebrate past accomplishments; it charts a path forward.Why This Book Matters:As we face increasingly complex societal challenges—climate change, pandemics, social fragmentation—the insights in this book equip readers to transform uncertainty into action. Drawing from the intellectual spark first ignited by J.P. Guilford, the book offers a vision of creativity as a dynamic, responsible, and essential response to our times.This is a must-read for educators, researchers, students, psychologists, and innovation leaders—anyone who believes in the power of human creativity to shape a better future. Read more