Brainstorming is a near ubiquitous means for groups to initiate planning for a project, whether in business or in class. The assumption is that by starting with a blank slate, asking people to throw out ideas without judgement, groups will get a wider range of options and greater participation than otherwise. But in reality, the results are often the exact opposite as studies have shown it to be often less effective than individuals working alone (Brown & Paulus, 2002). Researchers have looked at why brainstorming so often fails, and the results can guide faculty in setting up productive brainstorming sessions for their students.
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