- My Favorites
- Search
- Subscribe via RSS
- Browse Articles
- All Articles
- Creativity Articles
- Vocabulary Articles
- Memory Articles
- Stress Articles
- Topics
- All Topics
- Creativity Topics
- Vocabulary Topics
- Memory Topics
- Stress Topics
- Special Topics
- Vocabulary
- Boost Memory
- Diet, Fitness & the Mind
- Most Popular Articles
Mentalrobics®
Mentalrobics®
- My Favorites
- Search
- Subscribe via RSS
- Browse Articles
- All Articles
- Creativity Articles
- Vocabulary Articles
- Memory Articles
- Stress Articles
- Topics
- All Topics
- Creativity Topics
- Vocabulary Topics
- Memory Topics
- Stress Topics
- Special Topics
- Vocabulary
- Boost Memory
- Diet, Fitness & the Mind
- Most Popular Articles
Creativity
- My Favorites
- Search
- Subscribe via RSS
- Browse Articles
- All Articles
- Creativity Articles
- Vocabulary Articles
- Memory Articles
- Stress Articles
- Topics
- All Topics
- Creativity Topics
- Vocabulary Topics
- Memory Topics
- Stress Topics
- Special Topics
- Vocabulary
- Boost Memory
- Diet, Fitness & the Mind
- Most Popular Articles
Elaboration
One way to come up with new ideas or improve upon existing ideas is to elaborate on them. In fact, some people believe that all new ideas are elaborations of existing ideas. You should always be striving to improve your ideas and solutions by adding depth or detail. You can use the following nine different principles to help in your elaborations.
Substitution
Can I put something in place of something else?
Combination
Can I combine two ideas into one?
Adapt
How could I make something similar work?
Modify or Magnify
How can I alter or expand the use of this idea?
Put to other use
What other applications is this idea useful for?
Eliminate
What parts of the idea can I get rid of?
Rearrange or Reverse
How can I rearrange the components? What are some opposite ideas?
You can remember the above nine principles by using the acronym SCAMPER.
Substitution
Can I put something in place of something else?
Combination
Can I combine two ideas into one?
Adapt
How could I make something similar work?
Modify or Magnify
How can I alter or expand the use of this idea?
Put to other use
What other applications is this idea useful for?
Eliminate
What parts of the idea can I get rid of?
Rearrange or Reverse
How can I rearrange the components? What are some opposite ideas?
You can remember the above nine principles by using the acronym SCAMPER.
Related Content
Mentalrobics Public Forums
Chat about these articles and other mind related topics.
Creative Caption Game
Can you make the funniest caption for these odd pictures?
Chat about these articles and other mind related topics.
Creative Caption Game
Can you make the funniest caption for these odd pictures?
Follow Braingle!