Effects of science fiction films on junior high school students’ creative processes and products

•This study cultivated an atmosphere rooted in science fiction films.•Students enrolled in technological design courses.•Students immersed in a science fiction films environment performed better during the creative process.•Students with different cognitive styles did not differ in terms of creative processes and products.

This study explored whether it is possible to enhance the creative processes and products of junior high school students enrolled in technological design courses by cultivating an atmosphere rooted in science fiction films (SFFs) or training in creative problem-solving. A quasi-experimental method comprised of non-equivalent pre- and post-tests was used in teaching experiments involving 163 seventh-grade students in seven classes. Descriptive statistics and ANCOVA revealed the following: (1) students immersed in a SFF environment performed better when presenting creative ideas during the creative process; (2) students in a SFF environment performed better in making creative products, but not at a significant level; (3) students with different cognitive styles did not differ in terms of creative processes and products.