Business Analytics Major Presents at SOURCE Spring Research Showcase, Demonstrates Value of Research Opportunities at the Whitman School

Does the way we dress activate our creativity? Do the things we wear help us integrate our identities, relationships and knowledge experiences? These are just some of the questions that Kendall Blincoe ’24 addressed when she presented “Dressed for Self-Disclosure: How Clothing Choices Can Affect Creativity Through Identity Activation” on March 21 at the University’s SOURCE Spring Research Showcase, an event featuring undergraduate research, and scholarly and creative work.

Blincoe was one of only five students selected from across the University to give a brief presentation of her research at the event — and the only student from the Whitman School. Her presentation was an outstanding example of some of the impactful research happening at Whitman and the opportunities available to students pursuing business degrees there.

A business analytics major, Blincoe spends most of her time immersed in coding and mathematics, but she is also someone interested in music and art and wanted to tap into the creative side of herself. She enrolled in Associate Professor of Management Lynne Vincent’s Managing and Leading People in Organizations course in spring 2023 and began to see how combining business and creativity was a possibility. When Vincent mentioned her own research on creativity and identity, Blincoe quickly applied to be her research assistant.

“Professor Vincent is so open minded. When I shared that I might be interested in helping with her research, even though I had no prior experience, she encouraged me,” says Blincoe. “She’s such a high-quality person and so clear on helping her students succeed. Having Professor Vincent as a mentor and guide has helped me grow professionally and taught me how to approach problems—something valuable to any business student.”

Vincent’s current research centers around how people dress and use clothing to express their creative identity, which has led to other questions about identity activation, specifically if what individuals wear make them think about how experiences, identities, relationships and more can be integrated to spark creativity.

Blincoe used her analytical background to help in the research process. The first study produced correlation-based first results from 88 participants who completed a survey on clothing self-disclosure using a rating scale of 1 to 4 to respond to statements like “My clothing indicates some of what I am like as a person” or “My clothing does not reveal anything about me.” Participants were then asked to generate identity statements related to what their clothing said about them. For example, a student wearing an Otto the Orange T-shirt might say, “This shows I am part of Syracuse University.” Results showed that those who felt that their clothing disclosed who they were generated more ideas and identity statements than those who did not.

Blincoe helped Vincent look at how the information from the first study might be manipulated to activate greater creativity, writing the manipulation herself and helping to decide which creation ideation to pursue.

Next, 100 participants took part in a study to see if they could be manipulated to activate their creativity. Fifty were asked a control question about their favorite movie, while the other 50 were asked to write a statement about how their clothing represented who they are as a person. Then, all 100 were asked to generate ideas for a new candle scent. The results showed that those whose creativity had been activated by the examination of their clothing came up with many more ideas, including some very unique candle scents like “Taco Night” and “Drywall.” This led Vincent and Blincoe to the conclusion that what a person wears can initiate creativity. Blincoe summarized this information at the SOURCE showcase, outlining the research’s implications.

Vincent was thrilled that Blincoe was selected to present the research at the SOURCE event, while also representing the Whitman School so well. “Kendall has been very creative and forward thinking and analytical in this process. Throughout this entire research process, she has understood that there were skills to be developed around data analytics, critical thinking and presentation that would serve her well as she pursues a career in business,” says Vincent, adding that she hopes to use Blincoe’s work as an example to get more Whitman students involved in research. “Many of our business students don’t realize the amazing research that is going on within the walls of the Whitman School and the outstanding opportunities there are to work with faculty and contribute to truly important outcomes. Of course, we are a professional school preparing students for careers, but research opportunities offer skills that are useful in any area of business.”

As Blincoe prepares to graduate, she is grateful for the opportunity to participate in this research. She plans to take part in a four-month internship with the Disney College Program before returning to her hometown of Syracuse to pursue a career. While she remains open-minded, she hopes her career path will combine her passion for analytics with the ability to make a community impact or work for a company that has a corporate social responsibility (CSR) component.

“Business and creativity are traditionally seen as separate, but participating in this research has me thinking about how to bridge that gap,” Blincoe says. “Now, I think about what I wear every day in terms of how it might impact my own creativity and productivity. I am grateful to Professor Vincent and the Whitman School for the opportunity to gain such amazing research experience that I can take with me into the job market. And, being selected to present this important work at the SOURCE event made it all that much more worthwhile.”