ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R

Advances in Psychological Science ›› 2016, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (1): 31-45.doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2016.00031

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Several thoughts on measuring creativity

GONG Zhe1; LIU Chang1; SHEN Wangbing2,1   

  1. (1 Lab of Cognitive Neuroscience and School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210097, China)
    (2 School of Public Administration and Institute of Applied Psychology, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China)
  • Received:2015-04-27 Online:2016-01-15 Published:2016-01-15
  • Contact: LIU Chang, E-mail: liuchang@njnu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:

    江苏省第四期“333高层次人才培养工程”科研项目; 国家自然科学基金(31500870); 中央高校基本业务费项目(2014B15314); 博士学术新人培育(1812000002120)

Abstract:

 Creativity measurements are the foundation of creativity research. However, the accuracy of the results of creativity measurements have been long questioned by scholars in the field, making precise creativity measurements an urgent topic for exploration. For example, the divergent thinking test is central in the study of creativity, but its traditional scoring systems have faced well documented problems. Insight tests may represent individual creativity levels, but their validity still remains to be confirmed. Creative achievement tests are not always used legitimately, which may cause common method variance, and consensual assessment techniques may cause rater effects.

Fortunately, however, in recent years, remarkable progress has been achieved in some creativity measurement hotspots. For example, new subjective scoring methods for assessing the uniqueness dimension of divergent thinking tests may improve assessment reliability and validity. This paper hopes to contribute to progress in this area, and researchers explore the measurement of creativity from semantic network aspect. Future research should focus on the following points: unifying basic conceptions, optimizing tests from content and process aspects, using mixed tests, increasing the diversification of tests through intersection research, etc.

Key words: creativity, measurement of creativity, creativity test, divergent thinking test