Northwestern University
The first goal of the proposed research is to develop an Imagination Quotient (ImQ) scale, which will include the ability to assess a person’s entire imagination capacity, as well as four different aspects of imagination, such as frequency of imaginings, complexity (how detailed they are), emotional valance (positive versus negative), and directedness (goal-directed versus “free-floating). Upon development of the ImQ scale, we will evaluate the relationships between imagination and its sub-factors and academic achievement, creative achievement, divergent thinking, vocational interests, intelligence, and personality based on self-report measures and performance measures in a large international sample. The final stage of the research program will use neuroimaging techniques (fMRI) to examine neural basis of attention in high and low imaginative people.
Researchers
![Darya L. Zabelina](https://www.imagination-institute.org/files/2018/06/image-rm8syg.png)
Darya L. Zabelina
Darya L. Zabelina is a Ph.D. Candidate at Northwestern University studying cognitive processes, attention, personality and neural aspects involved in creativity. Darya has a keen interest in exploring ways of enhancing and fostering the development of imagination, creative thinking, and problem-solving ability. Darya has published a number of professional articles and book chapters, and presents at national and international conferences. She serves as a reviewer for several professional journals, and her research has been covered by Scientific American, NPR, Huffington Post, among others. Apart from her work, Darya enjoys traveling, poetry, and meditation.