Editing Brainstorming (section)

==Osborn's method==
{{stack|[[File:Activity conducting.svg |thumb |500px |alt=Flowchart for conducting a brainstorming session|Flowchart for conducting a brainstorming session]]}}

===Two principles===
[[Alex F. Osborn|Osborn]] said that two principles contribute to "ideative efficacy":
# Defer judgment;  
# Reach for quantity.<ref name="Osborn, A.F. 1963" />

===Four rules===
Following these two principles were his four general rules of brainstorming, established with intention to:{{fact|date=September 2022}}
* reduce social inhibitions among group members;
* stimulate idea generation;
* increase overall creativity of the group.

These four rules were:

# ''Go for quantity'': This rule is a way of enhancing divergent production, aiming at facilitation of problem solution through the maxim ''quantity breeds quality''. The assumption is that the greater the number of ideas generated the bigger the chance of producing a radical and effective solution.{{fact|date=September 2022}}
# ''Withhold criticism'': In brainstorming, [[criticism]] of ideas generated should be put 'on hold'. Instead, participants should focus on extending or adding to ideas, reserving criticism for a later 'critical stage' of the process. By suspending judgment, participants will feel free to generate unusual ideas.{{fact|date=September 2022}}
# ''Welcome wild ideas'': To get a good long list of suggestions, wild ideas are encouraged. They can be generated by looking from new perspectives and suspending assumptions. These new ways of thinking might give better solutions.{{fact|date=September 2022}}
# ''Combine and improve ideas'': As suggested by the slogan "1+1=3". It is believed to stimulate the building of ideas by a process of [[Association (psychology)|association]].<ref name="Osborn, A.F. 1963">Osborn, A.F. (1963) ''Applied imagination: Principles and procedures of creative problem solving'' (Third Revised Edition). New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons.</ref>

===Applications===
Osborn said brainstorming should address a specific question; he held that sessions addressing multiple questions were inefficient.{{fact|date=September 2022}}

Further, the problem must require the generation of ideas rather than judgment; he uses examples such as generating possible names for a product as proper brainstorming material, whereas analytical judgments such as whether or not to marry do not have any need for brainstorming.<ref name="Osborn, A.F. 1963" />

===Groups===
Osborn envisioned groups of around 12 participants, including both experts and novices. Participants are encouraged to provide wild and unexpected answers. Ideas receive no criticism or discussion. The group simply provide ideas that might lead to a solution and apply no analytical judgment as to the feasibility. The judgments are reserved for a later date.{{fact|date=September 2022}}