ABSTRACT
In chapter 1 ,1 noted that group creativity has been neglected by many fields that study creativity and the arts. Instead of studying improvis ing groups, researchers have focused on product creativity: activities that result in objective, ostensible products-paintings, sculptures, musical scores-which remain after the creative act is complete (Runco & Albert, 1990; Sternberg, 1988; Sternberg & Davidson, 1995). These products are created over extended time periods, with unlim ited opportunities for revision by the creator before the product is displayed. In contrast, in improvisation, the creative process is the product; the audience is watching the creative process as it occurs. Product creativity is found in artistic domains such as sculpture and painting, as well as scientific domains, where the products generated are theories, formulas, or published articles.
