The Effects of Practical Problem-Based Home Economics Instruction (PPBHEI) on Middle School Students' Creativity: Focusing on the Content on “Clothing Management and Recycling”

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of Practical Problem-Based Home Economics Instruction (PPBHEI) on middle school students' creativity, focusing on the content on “clothing management and recycling.” This study carried out quasi-experimental research with an independent variable of PPBHEI and a dependent variable of creativity. The experiment was based on a sample of 62 (31 in each group) second grade students in the Cheongju area over four class hours. ANCOVA was performed to examine pre-test and post-test differences between the experimental group and the control group. The results showed that PPBHEI did not improve the level of creativity but improved the level of creative motivation among the sub-elements of creativity (creative thinking, creative tendency, creative motivation). In particular, PPBHEI improved the level of independence in creative tendency, intrinsic motivation, and diligence in creative motivation. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that PPBHEI is effective in improving independence, intrinsic motivation, and diligence in respect of middle school students’creativity.