The Mediating Roles of Generative Cognition and Organizational Culture between Personality Traits and Student Imagination

Abstract

Using science majors as an example, we analyzed how generative cognition, organizational culture, and personality traits affect student imagination, and examined the mediating effects of generative cognition and organizational culture. A total of 473 undergraduates enrolled in physical, chemical, mathematical, and biological science programs participated in this empirical study. The traits of openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism had various effects on student imagination. Openness proved to be the most influential factor on initiating, conceiving, and transforming imagination. Extraversion was the second best predictor of initiating imagination, and conscientiousness was the second best predictor of conceiving and transforming imagination.

Keywords

• Generative cognition
• Imagination
• Organizational culture
• Personality traits
• Science education