Paper Clip Test
This activity, also called ‘Alternative Uses Test’, can get the creative juices flowing before you need to tackle innovation or problem-solving. Psychologist JP Guilford created this as a test, but it can be used as a simple activity to identify your natural limitations. It's a great example for illustrating Functional Fixedness - the bias making it difficult for us to come up with novel or left-field ideas. It can also highlight how working as a group increases the number of potential solutions.
In this activity everyone will individually list as many alternative uses for an object as they can think of within a couple of minutes. It works with any sized group.
Any
5 -15 min
Medium
Steps
- Pick a commonly known object, such as a paper clip.
- Give the team 2 minutes to write down every different way they can think of to use the object. For example get the SIM card out of your phone, as a necklace.
- Once the time is up, discuss the different result in terms of:
- Fluency: the number of different alternate uses.
- Flexibility: the number of different types or categories.
- Originality: how unusual or unique the uses are.
What you need
- Paper
- Pens
- Timing device
Debrief
Ask the group questions to find out what their outcomes were, but also what they have learned.
- How did everyone go in terms of Fluency, Flexibility, and Originality.
- Did they find it easier or harder than expected? Why? Discuss how the cognitive bias Functional Fixedness can make iit harder for us to find alternatives.
- If you have a smaller group, check the total number of uses within the team. Compare that with the average or maximum number from one person (can often be used to point out the benefits with brainstorming).
Bonus tip
This is very easy to run with remote participants. Simply ask them to write down their ideas on a piece of paper or on a virtual page if you use a collaboration tool.
Creator
JP Guilford