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Humour and Serious Play Enhancing Creativity In HUMOUR AND SERIOUS PLAY ENHANCING CREATIVE THINKING IN COMMUNITY DISABILITY SERVICE DESIGN By BEN WEINLICK A Major Project Report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS In LEADERSHIP We accept this Report as conforming to the required standard .................................................................................. Debbie Reid, MEd, Project Sponsor .................................................................................. Jim Force, PhD, Faculty Supervisor .................................................................................. Wendy Rowe, PhD, Committee Chair ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY November 2010 © Ben Weinlick, 2010 Humour and Serious Play ii ABSTRACT Over the years of providing disability services in Alberta, there has been an intention to design support models that are innovative and relevant to an individuals’ needs, and aspirations. This project researched what might set the stage for innovations in disability services to emerge. In particular, this research project explored the use of serious play in the design processes of a pilot project, Recruiting Allies Within Kommunity (RAWK). From the data, a number of unexpected conclusions emerged. The first is that serious play in the design process fosters strong trust among the members and on that basis more creative ideas emerged. Second, there was a need to balance serious play and critical thinking to select relevant ideas. Third, from comparing and contrasting the data with relevant literature on enhancing creativity, an organizational culture can be strengthened to support creative thinking abilities in order to produce quality outcomes for service recipients. Humour and Serious Play iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people have supported and inspired me over the last year of this research project. First, my teacher and mentor Lama Ole Nydahl, with his robust sense of humour and playfulness that benefit others in all kinds of serious situations, inspired me to conduct this research project. He showed me that humour and playfulness are not a waste of time and that, if they are engaged in skilfully, they can be useful in supporting others to find their inner strengths and see fresh possibilities. He often jokes, “If everything is the free play of mind, we might as well enjoy it.” I also want to thank Debbie Reid, my project sponsor, an excellent mentor in Community Disability Services. To me, Debbie is a great heroine of the mind who gracefully balances a hilarious sense of humour with deep wisdom. As well, my amazing colleagues and friends at SKILLS Society and the participants in the project ‘blew my mind’ and made me laugh often: Gertrude, Murray, Lois, Gretel, Trudy, and Wendell whom Murray called the “French Jesus” because of his “amazing” moustache and coiffed hair (All names here are pseudonyms). I want to thank Jim Force, PhD, my research project advisor. I couldn’t have asked for a better advisor. In the writing process Jim was a living example of how to foster creativity by provoking my divergent and convergent thinking processes. I can tell that Jim lives serious play. Finally, my wildly inspiring family, Eve, Lilly, and Maelen, who put up with a deadbeat dad in the basement who was engaging a computer and enjoying a bottle of good scotch to finish his writing. I appreciated the playful breaks when they began to bash on the drums in my studio to get my attention. I hope you guys will always have the support to retain your curiosity, wild playfulness, and creativity for the benefit of all. You’ll certainly have the support of a weird Dad embarrassing you with his bad sense of humour. Humour and Serious Play iv Nothing in man is more serious than his sense of humor; it is the sign that he wants all the truth. (Thinkexist, 2010, para. 1) Humour and Serious Play v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................................... iii CHAPTER ONE – FOCUS AND FRAMING ................................................................................1 Introduction...............................................................................................................................1 The Opportunity and Its Significance.......................................................................................4 Systems Analysis of the Opportunity .......................................................................................7 Organizational Context.............................................................................................................9 CHAPTER TWO – LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................13 Defining Creative Thinking....................................................................................................13 Identifying Creative Thinking .........................................................................................13 Divergent and Convergent Thinking...............................................................................14 Extraordinary Creativity Versus Creative Abilities in Everyone ....................................16 The Role of Serious Play and Humour in Fostering Creative Thinking.................................17 Defining Humour and Serious Play.................................................................................17 The Role of Humour and Serious Play in Enhancing Creative Thinking .......................20 Effects of Humour and Play Integrated Into Workplace Cultures ..................................21 Challenges of Developing a Culture in Which Humour and Play Are Integrated to Foster Creative Thinking.................................................................................................23 How Can an Individual and a Group Process Enhance Creativity? .......................................25 How Can an Individual Enhance Creativity? ..................................................................25 How Can a Group Process Enhance Creativity? .............................................................27 CHAPTER THREE – CONDUCT OF THE ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT .........................35 Research Approach.................................................................................................................35 Project Participants .................................................................................................................36 Research Methods...................................................................................................................38 Tools................................................................................................................................39 Anecdote Circle...............................................................................................................40 Focus Group ....................................................................................................................41 Interview..........................................................................................................................42 Procedures/Study Conduct ..............................................................................................43 Data Analysis...................................................................................................................45 Ethical Issues ..........................................................................................................................47 Respect for Human Dignity.............................................................................................47 Free and Informed Consent .............................................................................................48 Respect for Privacy and Confidentiality..........................................................................48 Respect for Justice and Inclusiveness..............................................................................49 Balancing Harms and Benefits ........................................................................................49 Humour and Serious Play vi CHAPTER FOUR – ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS......51 Study Findings........................................................................................................................55 Finding 1: Play and Humour Foster Strong Bonds and Trust .........................................55 Finding 2: Play and Humour Foster Intrinsic Rewards...................................................57 Finding 3: Play and Humour Must Be Framed in a Creative Process.............................59 Finding 4: Play and Humour Lead to Creative Ideas ......................................................60 Finding 5: Environment Is a Catalyst for Play and Creativity ........................................63 Finding 6: Creative Play and Critical Thinking Must Be Balanced................................64 Finding 7: It Is Uncertain Whether the Outcomes of the Creative Process Are Relevant...........................................................................................................................65 Study Conclusions ..................................................................................................................68 Conclusion 1: Play and Humour Foster Divergent Thinking, Increase Morale, and Deeply Bond the Members
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