Research-based Resources for Problem Finding

This is a curated list of relevant research associated with problem finding

Allen, M.S., Guilford, J.S., & Merrifield, P.R. (1960). The evaluation of selected intellectual factors by creative research scientists [Report]. Los Angeles: University of Southern California.

Apple, Inc. (2009). Challenge based learning: Take action and make a difference. Cupertino, CA: Apple, Inc.

Atkin, J.M. & Atkin, A. (1989). Improving science education through local alliances: a report to the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Santa Cruz, CA: Network Publications.

Bransford, J, & Stein, B.S. (1984). The IDEAL problem solver: A guide for improving thinking, learning, and creativity. New York: W.H. Freeman.

Bruner, J. S. (1961). The act of discovery. Harvard Educational Review, 31, 21-32.

Buldyrev, D.V. (1994). Science research in the classroom. The Physics Teacher 32, 411-415.

Czarnik, J.C. & Hickey, D.T. (1997). Problem generation in the Mission to Mars curriculum. [Paper] American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Symposium session, 16.41. Cambridge: BBN Labs, Inc.

Delcourt, M. A. B. (2007). Creative productive behavior and self-regulation: Keys to developing projects in the natural and social sciences In B. M. Shore, M. W. Aulls, & M. A. B. Delcourt (Eds.), Inquiry in education volume II: Overcoming barriers to successful implementation. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Delcourt, M.A.B. (1993). Creative productivity among secondary students: combining energy, interest, and imagination. Gifted Child Quarterly, 37, 23-31.

Dillon, J. T. (1982). Problem finding and solving. The journal of creative behavior, 16, 97-111.

Fontenot, N. A. (1993). Effects of training in creativity and creative problem finding upon business people. The Journal of Social Psychology, 133, 1, 11-22.

Getzels, J. (1976). Problem finding and the inventiveness of solutions. Journal of Creative Behavior, 16, 97-111.

Getzels, J. (1979). Problem finding: a theoretical note. Cognitive Science, 3, 167-172.

Getzels, J., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1976). The creative vision: A longitudinal study of problem finding in art. New York: Wiley & Sons.

Greeno, J. (1978). Natures of problem-solving abilities. In W. Estes (Ed.), Handbook of learning and cognitive processes (pp. 239-270). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Hoover, S. M., & Feldhusen, J.F. (1994). Scientific problem solving and problem finding: a theoretical model. In M.A. Runco (Ed.), Problem finding, problem solving, and creativity. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Company.

Hoover, S.M. (1994). Scientific problem finding in gifted fifth-grade students. Roeper Review, 16, 3, 156-159.

Hoover, S.M., & Feldhusen, J.F. (1990). The scientific hypothesis formulation ability of gifted ninth-grade students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82, 838-848.

Innamorato, G. (1998). Creativity in the development of scientific giftedness: educational implications. Roeper Review, 21, 1, 54-59.

Jonassen, D.H. (1997). Instructional design models for well-structured and ill-structured problem-solving learning outcomes. Educational Technology Research and Development, 45, 65-94.

Kay, S. (1994a). From theory to practice: Promoting problem-finding behavior in children. Roeper Review, 16, 195-197.

Kay, S. (1994b). A method for investigating the creative thought process. In M.A. Runco (Ed.), Problem finding, problem solving, and creativity. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Company.

LaBanca, F. (2007). The Connecticut Science Fair: impressions of sixty years of innovation. Connecticut Journal of Science Education, 45, 14-18.

LaBanca, F. (2008). Impact of problem finding on the quality of authentic open inquiry science research projects. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT.

LaBanca, F., & Ritchie, K. C. (2011). The art of scientific ideas: Teaching and learning strategies that promote effective problem finding. The Science Teacher, 78 (8), 48-51.

LaBanca, F., Worwood, M., LaSala, J., Schauss, S., & Donn, J. (2013). Blended instruction: Exploring student-centered pedagogical strategies to promote a technology-enhanced learning environment. Litchfield, CT: EDUCATION CONNECTION. Retrieved from

Leavitt, H.J. (1976). Problem finding, problem solving, and solution implementing: creativity in the context of working problems through. UCLA Educator, 18, 2, 1-5.

Martin-Hansen, L. (2002). Defining inquiry. The Science Teacher, 69, 34-37.

National Research Council. (2000). Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Newell, A., & Simon, H. (1972). Human Problem Solving. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Parnes, S. J. , Noller, R. B., & Biondi, A. M. (1977). Guide to creative action. NY: Charles Scribner’s Son.

Pizzini, E.L. (1985). Improving science instruction for gifted high school students. Roeper Review, 7, 231-234.

Pyle, E. (1996). Influences on science fair participant research design selection and success. School Science and Mathematics, 96, 400-406.

Renzulli, J.S. (1986). The three-ring conception of giftedness: a developmental model for creative productivity. In R. J. Sternberg & J.E. Davidson (Eds.), Conceptions of giftedness. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Rostan, S.M. (1994). Problem finding, problem solving, and cognitive controls: An empirical investigation of critically acclaimed productivity. Creativity Research Journal, 7, 97-110.

Roth, W-M & Bowen, G. M. (1993). An investigation of problem framing and solving in grade 8 open-inquiry science program. The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 3, 165-204.

Runco, M. A. (1994). Problem finding, problem solving, and creativity. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Company.

Runco, M. A. & Nemiro, J. (1994). Problem finding, creativity, and giftedness. Roeper Review, 16, 235-241.

Runco, M. A. & Okuda, S. M. (1988). Problem-discovery, divergent thinking, and creative process. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 17, 211-220.

Runco, M.A. & Okuda, S.M. (1991). The instructional enhancement of the ideational originality and flexibility scores of divergent thinking tests. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 5, 435-441.

Runco, M. A., & Chand, I. (1994) Problem finding, evaluative thinking, and creativity. In M.A. Runco (Ed.), Problem finding, problem solving, and creativity. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Company.

Shepardon, D.P. (1997). The nature of student thinking in life science laboratories. School Science and Mathematics, 97, 37-44.

Siu, K.W.M. (2001). What should be solved? The Korean Journal of Thinking and Problem Solving, 11, 2, 9-22.

Smilansky, J. (1984). Problem solving and the quality of invention: an empirical investigation. Journal of Educational Psychology, 76, 377-386.

Starko, A.J. (2007). Teaching problem finding to elementary students: views from the trenches. In B. M. Shore, M. W. Aulls, & M. A. B. Delcourt (Eds.), Inquiry in education volume II: Overcoming barriers to successful implementation. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Subotnik R.F., & Steiner, C.L. (1994). Problem identification in academic research: a longitudinal case study from adolescence to early adulthood. In M. A. Runco (Ed.), Problem finding, problem solving, and creativity. Norwood, NJ: Ablex Publishing Company.

Subotnik, R.F. (1988). Factors from the structure of intellect model associated with gifted adolescents’ problem finding in science: research with Westinghouse Science Talent Search winners. Journal of Creative Behavior, 22, 1, 42-54.

Torrance, E. P. (1965). Rewarding creative behavior: experiments in classroom creativity. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Tytler, R. (1992). Independent research projects in school science: Case studies of autonomous behavior. International Journal of Science Education, 14, 393-411.

Wakefield, J.F. (1985). Towards creativity: problem finding in a divergent-thinking exercise. Child Study Journal, 15, 265-270.

Washton, N.S. (1967). Teaching science creatively: a taxonomy of pupil questions. Science Education, 51, 428-431.