Has Creativity Research Become a Trivial Pursuit?

• Authors: Todd Lubart , Xavier Caroff
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Based on Glăveanu’s target article, issues raised about the psychometric approach to creativity research are examined. Criticisms of divergent thinking tests, such as the unusual uses of an object test, are examined. Arguments supporting the theoretical and practical utility of divergent thinking tests are presented. It is furthermore suggested that tests are best conceived and used in contextualized ways. The example of measures of divergent thinking which were designed for managers is presented. Finally, the psychometric approach encompasses many aspects of creativity beyond divergent thinking, as illustrated by recent work on the evaluation of creative potential (the EPoC battery). In the EPoC assessment, both divergent-exploratory thinking and convergent-integrative thinking are measured in a range of contextual domains, such as the visual-graphic, verballiterary, social problem solving ones. This work contrasts with the simplistic, and restrictive view of the unusual uses of an object test as the epitome of the psychometric approach to creativity.

Keywords

EN

Creativity measurement; EPoC; Divergent thinking; Psychometric approach

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Creativity. Theories – Research - Applications
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 44-48

Dates

published

2015-06-01

received

2014-11-30

revised

2014-12-21

accepted

2014-12-22

online

2015-05-26

Contributors

author

Todd Lubart

• Université Paris Descartes, France

author

Xavier Caroff

• Université Paris Descartes, France

References

• Caroff, X., & Lubart, T. (2012). Multidimensional Approach to Detecting Creative Potential in Managers. Creativity Research Journal, 24, 1, 13–20; DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2012.652927.[WoS][Crossref]
• Glăveanu, V. P. (2014). The psychology of creativity: A critical reading. Creativity. Theories – Research – Applications, 1, 10-32; DOI: 10.15290/ctra.2014.01.01.02.
• Guilford, J. P. (1950). Creativity. American Psychologist, 5, 444-454.[Crossref]
• Kim, K. H. (2008). Meta-Analyses of the Relationship of Creative Achievement to Both IQ and Divergent Thinking Test Scores. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 42, 2, 106–130; DOI:10.1002/j.2162-6057.2008.tb01290.x.[WoS][Crossref]
• Lubart, T., Besançon, M., & Barbot, B. (2011). EPoC: Evaluation du potentiel créatif [Evaluation of potential creativity]. Paris : Hogrefe.
• Lubart, T., Mouchiroud, C., Tordjman, S., & Zenasni, F. (2003). Psychologie de creativité [Psychology of creativity]. Paris: Armand Colin.
• Scratchley, L. S., & Hakstian, A. R. (2001). The measurement and prediction of managerial creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 13, 3-4, 367–384; DOI:10.1207/S15326934CRJ1334.[Crossref]
• Sternberg, R.J. & Lubart, T. (1995). Defying the crowd. New York: Free Press.

Identifiers

DOI

10.1515/ctra-2015-0006