A Review of Brainstorming Research: Six Critical Issues for Inquiry

Abstract

Brainstorming is one of the most well-known tools for creative thinking. Many empirical studies have been conducted regarding the effectiveness of this approach to group idea generation. Few previous reviews have considered more than one or two dozen studies and they have ignored a few fundamental issues outlined by the inventor of the tool. This condition has led to some unfortunate misconceptions about brainstorming. This article provides a review of 50 studies done from 1958 to 1988. They are examined on the basis of six major issues and interpreted by considering 40 additional studies conducted since 1988. The aim is to take stock of what we know and point out productive pathways for future research. 2 #302-Brainstorm 1/11/01 1:28 PM Page 2