Examining the effects of scamper-based activities on preschool children's creative thinking skills

This study aimed to create and implement SCAMPER-based activities for preschool children and to measure the effects of these activities on children's creative thinking skills using Torrance Creative Thinking Tests (TCTT)-Shape Form A and B. A quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest control and placebo groups was used in the study. The universe of the study consisted of 60-72 month-old children attending preschool education in Aksaray, and the sample consisted of 50 children aged 60-72 months attending preschool education in independent kindergartens in Aksaray and participating in children's club activities. After all groups were subjected to a pretest, SCAMPER-based activity was applied to the experimental group once a week for eight weeks, the program implemented by the Ministry of National Education to the control group, and music and Turkish activities to the placebo group for four weeks. After the data were obtained, the raw scores were converted to z scores and the results were examined in six dimensions: fluency, originality, abstractness of titles, enrichment, resistance to early closure, and creative strengths. The results of the groups showing normal distribution were examined with the Dependent Groups T test and the results of the groups not showing normal distribution were examined with the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, a non-parametric test. As a result of the analyses, a statistically significant difference was found in favor of the post-test between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental group in the sub-dimensions of originality, abstractness of titles, enrichment and creative strengths list. However, no significant difference was found between the pre-test and post-test scores of the control and placebo groups. No significant difference was found between the pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental, control and placebo groups in the sub-dimensions of fluency and resistance to premature closure. Based on these findings, it was concluded that the SCAMPER technique positively affects the creative thinking skills of pre-school children.