Creative Potential and Creative Self‐Belief: Measurement Invariance in Cross‐Cultural Contexts

Abstract

Cross‐cultural studies on creativity, mainly focusing on the creative potential aspect (e.g., divergent thinking), are emerging in recent years. However, the creative self‐belief (e.g., creative self‐efficacy) aspect of creativity is under‐researched cross‐culturally. Moreover, studies that address the measurement invariance of creativity assessments to ensure the measures' sound psychometric properties cross‐culturally are rare. Thus, we aimed to address (a) the measurement invariance and (b) the mean comparisons of divergent thinking and creative self‐efficacy between American and Chinese adults in two studies. Study 1 investigated four divergent thinking (DT) tests (Line Meanings, Uses, Instances, and Consequences) between American (n = 341) and Chinese (n = 345) college students. Multi‐group confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) for fluency‐supported scalar invariance based on a three‐factor model (removing one Instances item) and those on originality‐supported partial scalar invariance (freeing Uses intercepts) based on a three‐factor model. American respondents exhibited higher latent means on fluency and originality compared to their Chinese counterparts. Study 2 investigated a creative self‐efficacy (CSE) scale between American (n = 302) and Chinese (n = 316) college students. Multi‐group CFA supported scalar invariance based on a one‐factor model (removing one item). Latent mean comparisons showed no difference in CSE across the two groups.