Predicting Children's Creative Performance

Abstract

The predictive validity of the fluency index of divergent-thinking tests was evaluated, with extracurricular creative performance in seven domains as the criteria. The unique aspects of this project were (a) that gifted and talented children were represented in the sample of 150 subjects, (b) that both performance quantity and quality scores were used as criteria, and (c) that fluency, fluency2, and an interaction of IQ X fluency were tested as predictors. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that fluency has predictive validity; however, this is limited to certain areas of performance, e.g., writing and crafts. IQ was significantly related to other areas of performance, e.g., science and performing arts, but there was little indication of a quadratic relationship or an interaction of IQ X fluency.