How do feedback seekers think? Disparate cognitive pathways towards incremental and radical creativity

Abstract

ABSTRACT We explored the effects of feedback-seeking behaviour (FSB) on two types of creativity, radical and incremental, and directed our attention to the cognitive processes that mediate the relationship between FSB and creativity. On the basis of the dual pathway to creativity model, we propose that feedback-seeking (FS) frequency and breadth are associated with cognitive flexibility and persistence, which are related to the radical and incremental creativity of feedback seekers. In Study 1, our analysis of the field data comprising 239 employees from 95 teams revealed that FS frequency is positively related to cognitive flexibility and persistence while FS breadth is positively related to cognitive flexibility. Only cognitive flexibility mediates the relationship between FSB and radical creativity. In Study 2, our online vignette studies revealed the indirect effects of FS breadth on radical and incremental creativity through cognitive flexibility and the indirect effect of FS frequency on radical creativity through cognitive persistence. This study advances the literature on FSB and creativity by developing and validating a theoretical model that considers the intervening cognitive mechanisms and the various forms of creativity.