THE EFFECT OF A NARRATIVE STRUCTURE ASSISTANCE TOOL ON THE CREATIVE PROCESS

An Analysis of Cognitive Load and Creative Experience

Abstract

This study investigated a "Narrative Structure Generator" (NSG), an AI-inspired assistive tool, to address students' difficulties in script outline writing. A 2x2 mixed experimental design involved forty university students assigned to linear or non-linear narrative groups. Participants completed tasks under two counterbalanced conditions: with "Basic Narrative Framework prompts only" (Basic) and with "Basic prompts plus NSG assistance" (Basic+NSG). Cognitive load, task experience, and perceived effectiveness were measured. While NSG did not significantly reduce overall cognitive load, it did lower the load for constructing core script elements and plot stages. Crucially, for high-complexity non-linear narratives, NSG significantly reduced the cognitive load for plot and causal logic construction and enhanced the task completion experience. Users generally perceived NSG as effective. This study provides empirical evidence for structured assistive tools, highlighting their specific benefits in complex creative contexts and offering guidance for instructional design.