Idea Evaluation and Creativity: Toward a Process-Specific Nomological Network

In this article, I review nearly a decade of research on the topic of idea evaluation and creativity. This summary spans early theoretical, experimental, and integrative work. I propose an initial nomological network of idea evaluation that is situated within the traditional eight-stage process model of creative problem solving. The proposed network consists of personal factors, contextual factors, and their interactions that have been empirically demonstrated to influence idea evaluation performance. I draw the conclusion that each creative process places unique demands on individuals and groups, and thus may require unique resources to execute. Future research is encouraged that focuses on constructing more precise nomological networks of creative processes.