Awakening student creativity: Empirical evidence in a learning environment context

The aim of this study was to investigate how positive and negative learning environments are related to students' motivation and knowledge sharing behaviour and therefore influence creativity. Questionnaires were administered to 579 students in tourism and hospitality management departments. Because the students within Chinese society are followers with collectivist values and are influenced by other students, this is a good setting for the learning environment being discussed. The results showed that positive learning environments were related to intrinsic motivation and creativity and that negative environments were harmful to intrinsic motivation and creativity. Practical implications of the results are discussed.