Storytelling as a Pedagogical Tool for Developing Divergent Thinking in Social Science
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Abstract
Introduction: Storytelling, traditionally a cultural practice and teaching tool, is increasingly recognized as an effective way to enhance cognitive growth in schools. This paper explores how storytelling can be used in middle school social science classes to foster divergent thinking. Unlike standard teaching, that often seeks a single correct answer, storytelling encourages creativity and multiple perspectives.
Objective: The study aimed to examine the theoretical basis and teaching value of storytelling for promoting divergent thinking, investigate its connection with the four aspects of divergent thinking—fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration—and propose practical classroom strategies. Additionally, it tested a structured storytelling program using a quasi-experimental design.
Method: A mixed-method approach combined a systematic literature review with a field-based quasi-experiment. The experiment involved a pretest–posttest control group design with 120 seventh graders from two schools. Over 12 weeks, the storytelling program’s effect on divergent thinking was measured using the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking–Figural (TTCT-F).
Results: The literature review indicated that storytelling could enhance all four dimensions of divergent thinking. The field study confirmed significant improvements in the experimental group compared to the control group: fluency (Cohen’s d = 0.74, p < 0.001), flexibility (d = 0.68, p < 0.001), originality (d = 0.81, p < 0.001), and elaboration (d = 0.59, p < 0.01). Qualitative observations also showed higher student engagement, increased motivation, and growth in empathy.
Conclusion: Storytelling proves to be a powerful classroom strategy for nurturing divergent thinking in social science. Both theoretical and empirical evidence suggest it helps students develop creative problem-solving skills, flexible thinking, and cultural awareness, making learning more engaging and meaningful.