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Exploring the inventive mindset of Singapore students
Author
Muhammad Raufie Shafie
Supervisor
Subramaniam, R. (Ramanathan)
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the inventive mindset of Singapore students. A toy invention competition was organised to attract budding inventors from amongst the student population. Participants were required to build a prototype based on scientific principles so that it could reveal certain aspects of their inventive capabilities.
Three evaluation instruments were specially designed to provide data for analyses : an invention design form, a survey form and a product evaluation form. This exploratory study is the first of its kind to be carried out on such a scale. Therefore, a significant part of this study focused on the design and validation of these instruments.
Based on the data provided by these instruments, quantitative and qualitative analyses shed useful light on the inventive mindset of Singapore students. The data were analyzed on four aspects : the inventor, the invention, the inventor's environment and the inventive process adopted. The key findings are :) a) students are generally neutral as regards to motivation rewards for entering invention competitions, b) the educational environment is becoming more conducive for inventors, c) female students are just as interested in invention competitions as male students, d) students are not interested in becoming full-time inventors but are willing to take it up as a hobby, and e) the level of creativity in the entries is about average.
Some recommendations are suggested for further action.
Three evaluation instruments were specially designed to provide data for analyses : an invention design form, a survey form and a product evaluation form. This exploratory study is the first of its kind to be carried out on such a scale. Therefore, a significant part of this study focused on the design and validation of these instruments.
Based on the data provided by these instruments, quantitative and qualitative analyses shed useful light on the inventive mindset of Singapore students. The data were analyzed on four aspects : the inventor, the invention, the inventor's environment and the inventive process adopted. The key findings are :) a) students are generally neutral as regards to motivation rewards for entering invention competitions, b) the educational environment is becoming more conducive for inventors, c) female students are just as interested in invention competitions as male students, d) students are not interested in becoming full-time inventors but are willing to take it up as a hobby, and e) the level of creativity in the entries is about average.
Some recommendations are suggested for further action.
Date Issued
2005
Call Number
LB1062 Muh
Date Submitted
2005