Creative Ideas

Creativity Assessment

This is a summary of results from several measures of creativity which I took over a period of a year. The results are impressive, and each is interpreted for you in the sections below. All of these tests were administered Dr. Grove, who is currently conducting research in creativity. These are the measures I have used: The Creativity Assessment Packet by Frank Williams, Ph.D, The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking by E. Paul Torrance, Ed.D. The PYTHAGORAS B/C by Greg A. Grove, Ph.D. The Wechsler Abreviated Scale of Intelligence,WASI by David Wechsler, Ph.D. The Luscher Color Test by Max Luscher, Ph.D. The Preconscious Activity Scale by John L. Holland, Ph.D., and Leonard L. Baird, Ph.D.

by Frank Williams, Ph.D. (1980, 1993)

The Williams Scale

Creative Thinking   a) Curiosity b) Imagination c) Complexity d) Risk-Taking e) Total

Percentiles   93 50 50 98 84

In the areas of imagination and complexity I have scores in the fifty percentile ranges. One may infer that my ideas will not be average in complexity. I believe in simplicity. Just as an average measure of imagination foretells that the ideas themselves may not be far from what the average person might understand. On the other hand the score of 93 in the curiosity measure shows that I am quite curious. I do want to know "why" and am capable of speculating, theorizing, and bringing in a wide range of perspectives to a creativity session. The 98 scored on the risk taking measure demonstrates that I do not let preconditions, or assumptions rest untested. I am willing to consider any possibility or reconsider them once they have been rethought. Why leave any line of thought untouched, unquestioned?

Exercise in Divergent Thinking (Form A)

by Frank Williams, Ph.D. (1991)

This is an observation screen. Dan scored 78 out of 100 points, which places him in the superior range of divergent thinking and feeling as these relate to creativity. This score is equivalent to the 92nd percentile based on group norms. This test revealed extremely high performance scores through a combination of verbal left-brain abilities (titles), along with non-verbal right-brain visual perceptive abilities (drawings).

Creative Thinking a) Fluency b) Flexibility c) Originality d) Elaboration e) Total

Form A 98 percentile 98 percentile 97 percentile 98 percentile 97 percentile

Form B 98 percentile 50 percentile 98 percentile 93 percentile 84 percentile

In these results, what stands out most are the measures for Originality, both in the high nineties percentile range. This is quite remarkable and means that I can come up with ideas, lots of them. It almost goes without saying that they will be new and unique. Then, looking at the measures for Fluency you see scores also in the 98th percentile. I feel that this measures one's ability to form ideas along a line of thought, that proceed from one to the another with a logic all their own. Elaboration is a measure expanding on a single idea to create others. Often times it is not the idea itself, or even the question or problem that I am posed with that ultimately provides an solution, or resolution, but rather the ruminations upon particular parts of an idea or by changing one aspect of an idea and speculating on how this single change would have a ripple effect on other aspects of the problem at hand.

Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking

Verbal Form A

by E. Paul Torrance, Ed.D. (1966, 1993)

a) Fluency b) Flexibility c) Originality d) Average e) Creativity Index

96 percentile 86 percentile 98 percentile 97 percentile 95 percentile

The Torrance measures, to a great extent agree with the measures on the Williams Scale. I feel that this adds some verity to the idea that I have a creative ability that is unusually high. The overall Creativity Index is quite high. If this is a measure of where I score relative to the population as a whole, then I am as creative as the 5% most creative people.

Figural Form A

by E. Paul Torrance, Ed.D. (1962)

a) Fluency b) Originality c) Elaboration d) Abstractness of Titles e) Resistance to Closure f) Average

65 percentile 90 percentile 99 percentile 92 percentile 87 percentile 98 percentile

Originality and Elaboration have been touched on before in other tests, these scores simply validate them. For those in advertising or public relations the scoring for Abstractness of Titles might be interesting. For those with pressing problems my scoring for Resistance to Closure might tell you that I am persistent, unwilling to simply give up when I am seeking a creative solution to a problem. On this measure I am average in Fluency, a result at variance with similarly titled measures on the Torrance, Verbal Form A, and that of the Williams Scale. Those tests measure verbal abilities, this one is based on figures drawn during the test. Perhaps then I am not a great artist. But then we are talking about finding creative solutions to your concerns.

PYTHAGORAS: Form B/C

Experimental Measures of Verbal and Nonverbal Creativity

by Greg A. Grove, Ph.D. (1999)

Dan was administered both forms of the Pythagoras. The WASI was administered between the Pythagoras tests to control and reduce any practice effects. Dan also took the Luscher Color Test, and the Preconcious Activity Scale, their results, as well as that of the WASI, are included after those of the PYTHAGORAS B and C. The Conceptual Insight subtest pertains to verbal concepts. Dan determined whether two words were similar or opposite in meaning. This subtest is timed, and speed and accuracy are critical to getting a high score. Dan's average T-score for this subtest is 72.5, the 99th percentile. His performance on Form B most nearly equates to his WASI Verbal IQ at the 96th percentile. From the results of this subtest, Dan demonstrated an excellent command of reading vocabulary and verbal reasoning, which could readily out-picture itself in handling the demands of creative verbal expression through writing. The Personality Disposition subtest is composed of two parts. Interests and Activities measures breadth and depth of various academic, vocational, and recreational endeavors, whereas Character Development measures personality from an array of positive traits. Above average scores typify the "nonconformist," whereas low scores typify the "conformist." Dan's T-score on the Interests and Activities portion suggests High Average depth and breath at the 73rd percentile. His average T-score on the Character Development portion profiles the creative, nonconformist at the 96th percentile. Based on these results, Dan possesses the intensive focus and nonconforming behavior that typifies a highly creative and diverse disposition. The Creative Imitation subtest allows the examinee an opportunity to modify and personalize a generic figure common to nearly every culture. The test is timed and scored on the basis of fluency (speed of performance), persistence, style of performance (trail-and-error or synthesis), aesthetic quality, and imagination. To attain a high score the examinee must work quickly and exhibit creativity that produces a new figure of same type but with greater depth of uniqueness. Dan's performance at the 99.1 percentile on both forms of the Pythagoras suggests that he is extremely capable of taking an existing idea and modifying it to produce a "better mousetrap." The Original Production subtest provides the examinee with an opportunity to create his own figure, design, or object using up to 9 geometric shapes. There are two trials. The first uses the shapes without color and the second uses the same shapes but with 2 choices of color per shape. The addition of color generally appeals to the examinee and adds another dimension to the creative act Dan's performance at the 99.1 percentile on both forms suggests that he excels in the area of visual-perception organization and synthesis. Dan's extremely high 99.1 percentile on this test reflects his High Average to Superior Block Design and Matrix Reasoning scores on the WASI. Dr. Greg A. Grove Certified Educational Therapist

Form B

Classification Conceptual Insight Personality Disposition Creative Imitation Original Production Composite

T-Scores 67 63 73 73 69

Percentiles 96.0 90.0 99.1 99.1 97.0

These measures provide a description of some fundamental creative measures. They describe a person who can extend existing ideas, eventually altering or wholly changing them into something new. However in Verbal Interpretation I am average. This portends an ability to speak in simpler ways when explaining myself, in other words, I can make myself understood. The average score in Original Production is only apparently at variance with similar measures on other tests. However, the PYTHAGORAS B uses simple geometrical shapes, in part, and so may well have complexity as a component in its scoring. I interpret this to mean that my ideas are not more complex than those of most persons, meaning, possibly, that I may have a talent for finding simple solutions. The results from the Form C, a test quite similar to that of Form B, provides similar results.

Form C

Sections Conceptual Insight Personality Disposition Creative Imitation Original Production Composite

T-Scores 78 61 73 73 71

Percentiles 99.7 86.0 99.1 99.1 98.0

Descriptors Gifted...... ...... High Average.. Very Creative.. Very Creative.. Very Creative..

The Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI)

by David Wechsler, Ph. D. 1999

This is a brief clinically-administered test of cognitive functioning
that correlates well with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Test-III (WAIS-III).

Subtest Scores Vocabulary Similarities Design Block Design Matrix Reasoning	T Scores 66 64 61 69	Percentiles 95 92 86 97	Dan's results on both the verbal and non-verbal sections of the WASI demonstrated superior performance. His overall cognitive functioning places him in the upper 3 percent of the norming population. Individuals scoring this high many times exhibit those personality traits associated with mentally gifted individuals.
Verbal IQ Performance IQ Full Scale IQ	67 68 69	96 96 97	Predicted Full-Scale WAIS-III IQ: 116-139 at the 90% confidence interval, with a mean IQ of 129, the 97th percentile.

The Luscher Color Test

by Max Luscher, Ph.D. (1948, 1969 )

The brief Color Test was administered to determine Dan's overall psycho-physiological state at the time of the testing. His overall score revealed no extreme levels of anxiety or personality dysfunction but rather an openness to experience new ideas and to disclose himself freely and openly to the examiner.

The Preconscious Activity Scale

by John L. Holland, Ph.D. and Leonard L. Baird, Ph.D. (1968)

Raw Score: 26 Male College Norms: Percentile 96

This brief screen for creativity consisted of 38 questions to which Dan responded "yes" or "no." The Scale is based on the theory that creative individuals have greater access to their subconscious mind from which to accesses divergent thoughts and feelings. Dan's score places him in the upper 4 percent of the male population and suggests excellent creativity functioning.