Quality Ranking Technique

Attribute Listing Technique is an analytical creative thinking method. It involves listing the characteristics of an object in a column and then adding modifications or transferring attributes to those characteristics. As a result of this process, the object is transformed into a new element capable of serving different purposes through enhancements to its original features.

History

The Attribute Listing Technique was widely used in many of Crawford's original creativity courses given in 1931. Crawford summarized the foundation of this approach as: "Moving one step forward is achieved by altering the quality or attribute of something or by adding the same quality or attribute to something else." Crawford observed that in each exercise, students generated either a transformed version of the object or a new product inspired by its attributes.^【1】

Classification of Attributes

The attributes of objects can be classified into the following categories:

• Physical attributes: Characteristics such as shape, color, and density.
• Social attributes: Characteristics such as impactfulness and scope of responsibility.
• Operational attributes: Characteristics such as manufacturing method and design.
• Psychological attributes: Elements such as motivational properties, capacity to generate negative emotions, and capacity to generate positive emotions.
• Economic attributes: Characteristics such as price and cost.

Application Steps

The application of the Attribute Listing Technique follows these stages:

1. A preliminary review of the object is conducted and its attributes are listed.
2. The object’s attributes are identified by group members and organized by a coordinator.
3. Ideas for improving each attribute are generated and recorded.
4. The object’s state after this process is evaluated.

Application Areas and Examples

This technique can be used in various fields for developing new products or improving existing ones.

• Education: It has been applied in science classes to explore alternative uses and enhance technical attributes of simple machines (screwdriver, scissors, pulley, crank) and modern technological tools (television, computer, telephone). For example, by listing the attributes of chalk—such as shape, size, color, and hardness—ideas can be developed for colored chalk or tools designed to hold chalk. Considering the attribute "metal" for nail clippers, ideas such as "could be glass" or "could be porcelain" can be generated, leading to a prototype of a porcelain clipper with interchangeable blades and heating functionality.
• Business: In a production process, attributes such as machine speed, energy consumption, and material type can be listed separately. Modifying each attribute can lead to the design of a new model or a more efficient process. In the service sector, attributes of customer service calls—such as duration, response format, and resolution rate—can be systematically transformed to establish new standards that improve service quality.
• Everyday Life: Attributes of a commonly used backpack—such as size, weight, water resistance, and number of compartments—can be listed. Suggestions for modifying each attribute—for example, reducing weight or increasing the number of compartments—can lead to new functions or design variations. Similarly, household cleaning routines—such as duration, tools used, and frequency—can be listed. By altering these attributes—for example, shortening the duration or introducing a new tool—a new routine can be designed that requires less time while achieving the same result.