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Creative scientists: A study of their behavioral traits
Abstract
This investigation was an attempt to understand creativity, the creative personality, and the productively creative scientist. It was also an attempt to understand and utilize personality measures which are valid and effective for identifying, significantly predicting, and selecting creative scientific talent. The purpose of the study was to replicate a 1972 study by Frank Barron and Jack Chambers, which identified behavioral characteristics common to creative scientists. The present study tested the validity of the instrumentation used in 1972 as a predictor of success in a particular field. To provide a theoretical background for the study, the review of the literature included both a historical survey on the studies of scientific talent and a literature search of research on the creative and productive scientist and the unified psychograph of this type of scientist. Literature on the assessment and measurement of creativity and identifying behavioral characteristics and traits of the productive creative scientist was reviewed. This began with Galton (1874) through Jack Chambers (1972) and Torrance (1987). Also reviewed were the methodologies of investigating personality structure. The replication of the Barron and Chambers' study was with a population of prominent scientists who are members of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. A questionnaire was used to gather the data--the 16-Personality Factor Questionnaire (Cattell & Stice, 1957). A personal letter was sent along with the questionnaire explaining the purpose, procedures, the protection of privacy and confidentiality of anonymity of response.
Subject Area
Educational psychology|Science education|Personality psychology
Recommended Citation
Gregor, Michelle Davis, "Creative scientists: A study of their behavioral traits" (1990). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9110146.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9110146