"Who Cares About Imagination, Creativity, and Innovation, and Why? A Review" by Marie J. C. Forgeard and James C. Kaufman

Summary

This research article investigates how academic papers articulate the importance of imagination, creativity, and innovation (ICI). The authors reviewed 200 empirical studies across various disciplines, including psychology, business, and education journals, to determine if and how researchers explain why these concepts are worthy of study. The findings reveal that a significant majority of articles (71%) offered little to no explicit discussion on the importance of ICI, often treating them as dependent variables to be predicted rather than predictors of other outcomes. While reasons for studying ICI varied by journal type, with "business, economics, and productivity" being the most common, the overall trend suggests researchers often assume their audience already understands the inherent value of ICI, missing opportunities for deeper justification.