Author: Lin, Shuying
Title: The relationships among classroom learning environment, motivation, and the creativity of hospitality undergraduate students in Taiwan
Degree: DHTM
Year: 2011
Subject: Classroom environment.
Motivation in education.
Creative ability.
Creative thinking.
Hospitality industry -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Taiwan.
College students -- Taiwan -- Attitudes.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations
Department: School of Hotel and Tourism Management
Pages: xv, 279 p. : ill. ; 30 cm.
Language: English
Abstract: Creativity is generally regarded both as an essential capability for hospitality graduates that will enable them to meet the challenges they will face, in the initial years and beyond, as career professionals and as a key element in enabling hospitality managers to operate businesses successfully (Hanson, 1993; Holjevac, 2003; Tas, LaBrecque, & Clayton, 1966). Many studies have already found that creativity can be promoted or fostered and is not a special talent found in only a few individuals (Cropley, 2001; Csikszentmihalyi, 2006). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of the classroom learning environment and motivation to learn on hospitality students' creativity. The study's research questions were to examine what attributes of the classroom learning environment should be developed to encourage students to make the best of their creative potential and what types of motivation need to be made available to students in order to promote creativity. This study employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods. First, an extensive review of the relevant literature was conducted to generate items for each research construct. Then, the qualitative method of in-depth and focus interviews was used to develop the instrument. In pretest procedures, a pilot test was conducted to modify and finalize the instruments before the main data collection. A three-section survey instrument, together with a creativity test (Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults) was distributed from October 1 to December 17, 2010. A total of 481 samples were collected from 13 academic universities in Taiwan offering hospitality management related programs. The results showed that the classroom learning environment factors of Cooperation with Classmates and Equity have direct positive effects on students' creativity. In addition, Investigation, Task Orientation, and Involvement had an indirect positive influence on creativity through the mediating effect of intrinsic motivation to learn. This study confirmed that both the classroom learning environment and intrinsic motivation to learn can independently and interactively affect hospitality students' creativity. The study's findings provide useful tools for the development of hospitality students' creativity. This study suggests that educators should work actively to create favorable classroom learning environments which contain the positive attributes that this study identified as promoting students' creative thinking. Furthermore, methods of how to apply these supportive classroom learning environment factors in the classroom and how to incorporate them into course design should be included in teaching workshops to assist educators in translating the findings of this study into actionable approaches.
Rights: All rights reserved
Access: restricted access

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
b24631462.pdfFor All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only)1.51 MBAdobe PDFView/Open


Copyright Undertaking

As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:

  1. I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
  2. I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
  3. I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.

By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.

Show full item record

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/6328