IMAGINATION MEETS INNOVATION: THE CREATIVE IMPACT OF SCIENCE FICTION LITERATURE ON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS

This experimental study explores the effect of science fiction literature on the creativity of middle school students. Creativity, recognized as a vital skill in education, enhances students' problem-solving, imagination, and innovation capacities. Grounded in Torrance's model of creativity, the study employs a mixed-methods approach integrating preand post-intervention assessments and semi-structured interviews. A total of 60 students from Grade 8 were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a four-week science fiction literature intervention involving multimedia and narrative formats. The creativity was measured using Torrance Inspired Tests of Creative Thinking (TITCT). Results revealed statistically significant gains in creativity—especially in originality and fluency—among students exposed to science fiction. These findings emphasize the dual role of science fiction as a medium for fostering both creativity and scientific literacy in education.