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The ability to search memory for diverse contextual usages of words is proposed to play a role in creative idea generation. However, it is not yet known whether searching for more diverse contextual usages of words enhances the novelty of ideas during idea generation. In three experiments, participants were given a noun as a creativity prompt (e.g., chamber) and generated words creatively linked to the prompt (e.g., secret, relic). We directly manipulated the semantic diversity of creativity prompts to induce differential levels of semantic context search. Semantic diversity refers to the diversity of contexts in which a word is used (e.g., chamber orchestra vs. judge's chamber). Semantic context search involves searching semantic memory for different contextual usages of a prompt word. Supporting the facilitative role of semantic context search, participants given prompts high in semantic diversity generated responses higher in novelty, compared to participants given prompts low in semantic diversity (Experiments 1 and 3). Capitalizing on recent advances in distributional semantics, our novel experimental approach led to a critical new insight--semantic context search can enhance the novelty of ideas.

Semantic distance is increasingly used for automated scoring of originality on divergent thinking tasks, such as the Alternate Uses Task (AUT). Despite some psychometric support for semantic distance -- including positive correlations with human creativity ratings -- additional work is needed to optimize its reliability and validity, including identifying maximally reliable items (objects) for AUT administration. We identify a set of 13 AUT items based on a systematic item-selection strategy ("belt," "brick," "broom," "bucket," "candle," "clock," "comb," "knife," "lamp," "pencil," "pillow," "purse," "sock"). This item-set resulted in acceptable reliability estimates and was found to be moderately related to both human creativity ratings and a creative personality factor (Study 1). These results replicated in a new sample of Participants (Study 2). We conclude with the following recommendations for reliable and valid assessment of AUT originality using semantic distance: 1) make choices based on theoretical/practical considerations, 2) administer (some or all of) the 13 items from this study; 3) if other items must be used, avoid compound words as AUT items (e.g., guitar string); 4) include as many AUT items as time permits; 5) instruct participants to "be creative"; and 6) address fluency confounds that conflate idea quantity and quality (e.g., via max scoring).

The steep decline in the price of wind turbines and solar photovoltaics provides a possibility to decarbonize electricity deeply and affordably. This study uses the HOMER Pro energy modeling tool to model an optimized grid-connected renewable energy system for a community in southern Alberta, Canada. The study's goal is to identify the best renewable energy technology combinations that can provide electricity at the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and has lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to the electricity produced by traditional fossil fuel. Gleichen is a small town in southern Alberta that is close to numerous commercial wind and solar projects given the region's high quality renewable resources. "Tri-brid" systems consisting of wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are considered and compared based on electricity prices, net present cost, and greenhouse gas emissions savings. This tri-brid system is connected to the grid to sell excess generated electricity or buy electricity when there is less or no availability of solar and wind energy. The tri-brid energy system has an estimated LCOE of 0.0705 CAD/kWh, which is competitive with the price of electricity generated by natural gas and coal, which is 0.127 CAD/kWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores what care-experienced young people want from mental health services. Six care-experienced young people were interviewed, and an interpretative phenomenological analysis applied. Three key themes emerged demonstrating that the way support is delivered, the people who deliver it, and the environment of mental health services are all important to care-experienced young people. Along with these findings, this study demonstrates that engaging vulnerable young people in research and service design is beneficial. Plain language summary: This study explores what care-experienced young people want from mental health services. Six care-experienced young people were interviewed. Themes that emerged from interviews showed that the type of support that was delivered, the people who deliver the support, and the environment in which the support is delivered were all important to young people. This study shows that engaging young people in research and service design is beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]