A factor-analytic study of creative-thinking abilities

Wilson, Robert; Guilford, J. P.; Christensen, P. R.; Lewis, Donald J.

doi:10.1007/bf02289230

Cited by 140 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Apart from the landmark factor-analytic research by Guilford's group (e.g., Wilson et al, 1953;Wilson, Guilford, Christensen, & Lewis, 1954), creativity research has not seen widespread adoption of latent variable methods. This represents a contrast to modern intelligence research, which commonly uses advanced latent variable methods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Are intelligence and creativity really so different?☆Fluid intelligence, executive processes, and strategy use in divergent thinking

2011

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Contemporary creativity research views intelligence and creativity as essentially unrelated abilities, and many studies have found only modest correlations between them. The present research, based on improved approaches to creativity assessment and latent variable modeling, proposes that fluid and executive cognition is in fact central to creative thought. In Study 1, the substantial effect of fluid intelligence (Gf) on creativity was mediated by executive switching, the number of times people switched idea categories during the divergent thinking tasks. In Study 2, half the sample was given an effective strategy for an unusual uses task. The strategy condition interacted with Gf: people high in Gf did better when given the strategy, consistent with their higher ability to maintain access to it and use it despite interference. Taken together, the findings suggest that divergent thinking is more convergent than modern creativity theories presume.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Are intelligence and creativity really so different?☆Fluid intelligence, executive processes, and strategy use in divergent thinking

2011

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“…In tests of Adaptive Flexibility the subject changes set in order to arrivc at a particular answer, while, in tests of this factor, it pays him to change set in as many different ways as possible, although this is not essential so far as he knows (73 …”

Section: -2 Symbol Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manual for Kit of Reference Tests for Cognitive Factors (Revised 1963)

French¹,

Ekstrom²,

Price³

1963

671

659

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“…It is important to note here that the creativity factors chosen for this study were not extracted by this method. These creativity factors were originally identified by Guilford (1952) and Wilson (1953) in factor analytic studies involving young adults. Hotelling's iterative process was used for initial factor extraction, and Zimmerman's orthogonal rota tion was based on reference tests, simple structure, psychological meaningful ness, and positive manifold.…”

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confidence: 99%

Variables Affecting Creative Contributions across the Adult Life Span

Alpaugh

Birren²

1977

Human Development

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The purpose of this study was to explore possible explanations of the decline in old age of highly creative contributions. This present study examined whether two explanations were more important than decrements in intelligence. These were (1) decrements in specific divergent thinking abilities and (2) a decline in preference for complexity. Specific creative abilities (divergent thinking) were measured by Guilford tests of redefinition, originality, adaptive flexibility, and ideational fluency. Preference for complexity was measured by the Barron-Welsh Art Scale. These tests were given to 111 teachers ranging in age from 20 to 83 years. The results showed that older subjects were as intelligent as younger subjects but that they performed less well on the Guilford tests and had a lower preference for complexity. Hence, the age differences on Guilford’s tests and the Barron-Welsh Art Scale are more plausible explanations for the age changes in creative contributions. Furthermore, scores on the Guilford tests and those on the Barron-Welsh Art Scale were not correlated. Therefore, it was suggested that the Guilford tests measured ability components of creativity whereas the Barron-Welsh Art Scale measures a motivational component of creativity.

show abstract

A factor-analytic study of creative-thinking abilities

Cited by 140 publications

References 9 publications

Are intelligence and creativity really so different?☆Fluid intelligence, executive processes, and strategy use in divergent thinking

Are intelligence and creativity really so different?☆Fluid intelligence, executive processes, and strategy use in divergent thinking

Manual for Kit of Reference Tests for Cognitive Factors (Revised 1963)

Variables Affecting Creative Contributions across the Adult Life Span

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