Measurement of Creativity: A Factor Analytic Study

Abstract

To examine the inter-relationships among 10 representative tests of creativity 108 college students, ranging from sophomore to graduate status, completed all 10 tests which represented the personality-motivational variables and the process/cognitive variables involved in creativity. It was hypothesized that with a multifaceted view of creativity, the personal variables would be independent of measures of cognitive process. This hypothesis was partially supported. Orthogonal varimax factor analysis yielded five independent groups of creativity tests. One factor involved a logical convergent search process while three factors involved divergent thinking tests. The last factor involved tests of personal characteristics. Results tended to suggest that a “creativity test” does not exist. The underlying assumptions of creativity tests should be questioned and examined further.