Expertise

Creative Thinking, Problem Solving, Expertise and Creativity

Biography

Dr. Weisberg is a cognitive psychologist. His area of interest is creative thinking, the cognitive processes involved in the intentional production of novelty: solutions to problems, works of art, scientific discoveries, and inventions. He has published numerous papers and books investigating cognitive mechanisms underlying problem solving and creative thinking. Dr. Weisberg and his students have carried out laboratory studies of undergraduates solving problems, in order to gain understanding of the mechanisms underlying leaps of insight and Aha! experiences in problem solving. He and his students have also examined “real-world” creative thinking at the highest levels, through case studies of people such as Edison, Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright, and jazz great Charlie Parker. In those studies, attempts are made to apply scientific methods to historical “data,” in order to derive conclusions concerning how the creative process functions at the highest levels.

Selected Publications

• Weisberg, R. W. & Reeves, L. M. (2013). Cognition: From memory to creativity. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Publishers.
• Weisberg, R. W. (2006). Creativity: Understanding innovation in problem solving, science, invention, and the arts. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
• Weisberg, R. W., Speck, R. M., Fleisher, L. A. (In press). Fostering innovation in medicine: A conceptual framework for medical centers. Health Care: The Journal of Delivery Science and Innovation.
• Chein, J. M. & Weisberg, R. W. (2013). Working memory and insight in verbal problems: Analysis of Compound Remote Associates. Memory & Cognition, 38, 473-81.
• Fleck, J. S. & Weisberg, R. W. (2013). Insight versus analysis: Evidence for diverse methods in problem solving. Journal of Cognitive Psychology. Published on-line April 19, 2013. DOI:10.1080/20445911.2013.779248
• Weisberg, R. W. (2013). On the “demystification” of insight: A critique of neuroimaging studies of insight. Creativity Research Journal, 25, 1-14.
• Weisberg, R. W. (2011). Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater: A case study of inside-the-box creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 23, 296-312.

Courses Taught

• Introduction to Psychology
• Ph.D. Core Course in Cognitive Psychology
• Creativity (Graduate and Undergraduate)
• Ph. D. Professional Development Seminar