Considering the rules of brainstorming in untrained idea generating groups

Brainstorming (Osborn, 1957), as an idea generating technique, is widely used in businesses and organizations despite evidence that it fails to produce more ideas than non-interacting groups (e.g., Mullen, Johnson, & Salas, 1991). Past tests of the technique employ comparisons instructed follow rules brainstorming (i.e., focus on quantity, free-wheeling, non-evaluation, piggy-backing) without such instructions. In current study, connection between activities proposed generation are examined. The perceived occurrence these examined untrained assess how they influence generation. 188 participants (61% men, 39% women), performed task typewriter task) assessed perceptions highlighted by group discussion. Overall, number generated with piggy-backing emerging a significant predictor variable.