Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Critical creativity criteria for students in higher education: taking the interrelationship effect among dimensions into account

  • Published:
Quality & Quantity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

It is known that the overall competitive advantages enjoyed by the Taiwanese higher education system have been decreasing in recent years relative to the educational systems of other countries. In light of aiming to become a kingdom of innovation, how to regain its competitive advantages over the very short term has become a critical issue requiring immediate attention. Based on previous research indicating that improving innovation is among the primary ways of enhancing an education system’s competitive advantages, that creativity is the foundation of innovation, that organizations that truly understand human creativity and are committed to nurturing it and living with the consequences of doing so are those that are most likely to succeed, and that students are a major group to be regarded as the backbone of a nation’s future development, the aim of this study is to explore critical criteria for creativity, which could significantly improve the creativity of college students. Although related studies can be found today, these studies seem to ignore the different effects of different dimensions of creativity evaluation, leading to results that are irrational and not completely suitable for real practice. In this regard, a perception of interrelationships among these dimensions is thus taken into account while calculating weights of evaluation creativity dimensions and criteria. In accordance with the result, the top six explored critical creativity criteria are shown to help enhance today’s college students’ creativity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison D.: Creativity, students’ academic writing, and EAP: exploring comments on writing in an English language degree programme. J. Engl. Acad. Purp. 3, 191–209 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amabile T.M.: The Social Psychology of Creativity. Springer, New York (1983)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Amabile T.M.: A model of creativity and innovation in organizations. In: Staw, B.M., Cummings, L.L. (eds) Research in Organizational Behavior, pp. 123–167. JAI, Greenwich (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Amabile T.M.: Creativity in Context: Update to the Social Psychology of Creativity. Westview Press, Boulder (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • Baer J.: The case for domain specificity of creativity. Creat. Res. J. 11, 173–178 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barron F.: The disposition toward originality. J. Abnorm. Soc. Psychol. 51, 478–485 (1955)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batey, M.D.: A psychometric investigation of everyday creativity. Unpublished doctoral thesis, University of London (2007)

  • Baughman W.A., Mumford M.D.: Process-analytic models of creative capacities: operations influencing the combination and reorganization process. Creat. Res. J. 8, 37–62 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bharadwaj S., Menon A.: Making innovation happen in organizations: individual creativity mechanisms, organizational creativity mechanisms or both?. J. Prod. Innov. Manag. 17, 424–434 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brophy D.R.: Understanding, measuring, and enhancing individual creative problem solving efforts. Creat. Res. J. 11, 123–150 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, I.S., Chen, J.K.: Improvement in national innovation: student creativity and innovative universities. Manuscript submitted for publication (2009a)

  • Chen, I.S., Chen, J.K.: To be a creative student: a study on secondary education system. Manuscript submitted for publication (2009b)

  • Chen, J.K., Chen, I.S.: A network hierarchical feedback system for Taiwanese universities based on the integration of total quality management and innovation. Manuscript submitted to a journal (2009c)

  • Chen J.K., Chen I.S.: TQM measurement model for biotechnology industry in Taiwan. Expert Syst. Appl. 36(5), 8789–8798 (2009d)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J.K., Chen I.S.: A pro-performance appraisal system for the university. Expert Syst. Appl. 37, 2108–2116 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clegg P.: Creativity and critical thinking in the globalised university. Innov. Educ. Teach. Int. 45(3), 219–226 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CNA: Taiwan Breaking News. http://gov.cna.com.tw/ReadNews/FeatureNews_Read.aspx?TopicNo=86&ID=200901170227 (2009a). Retrieved 8 Aug 2009

  • CNA: Taiwan Breaking News. http://gov.cna.com.tw/ReadNews/FeatureNews_Read.aspx?TopicNo=86&ID=200901170030&pageNum=1 (2009b). Retrieved 8 Aug 2009

  • Cox, S.: How to unleash your creativity. Balanced Existence. http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/unleash-your-creativity/ (2008). Retrieved 1 Dec 2009

  • Cropley, A.J.: Definitions of creativity. In: Encyclopedia of Creativity, pp. 511–524. Academic Press, San Diego (1999)

  • Davidson J.E.: The suddenness of insight. In: Sternberg, R.J., Davidson, J.E. (eds) The Nature of Insight, pp. 125–155. MIT, Cambridge (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewett T., Gruys M.L.: Advancing the case for creativity through graduate business education. Think. Skills Creat. 2, 85–95 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiPietro W.R., Anoruo E.: Creativity, innovation, and export performance. J. Policy Model. 28, 133–139 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodds R.A., Smith S.M., Ward T.B.: The use of environmental clues during incubation. Creat. Res. J. 14, 287–304 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Driver M.: Fostering creativity in business education: developing creative classroom environments to provide students with critical workplace competencies. J. Educ. Bus. 77(1), 28–33 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erickson K.A., Charness W.: Expert performance: its structure and acquisition. Am. Psychol. 49, 725–747 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck H.J.: Creativity and personality: suggestions for a theory. Psychol. Inq. 4, 147–178 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck H.J.: Genius: The Natural History of Creativity. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1995)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fagerberg J.: The need for innovation-based growth in Europe. Challenge 42(5), 63–78 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairweather J.S.: Diversification or homogenization: how markets and governments combine to shape American higher education. High. Educ. Policy 13, 79–98 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flowers L.S., Hayes J.R.: A cognitive process theory of writing. Coll. Compos. Commun. 32, 365–387 (1981)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furnham A., Batey M., Anand K., Manfield J.: Personality, hypomania, intelligence and creativity. Pers. Individ. Differ. 44, 1060–1069 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardiner H.: Creating Minds. Basic Books, New York (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelade G.: Creative style, personality and artistic endeavour. Genet. Soc. Gen. Psychol. Monogr. 128, 213–234 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • George J.M., Zhou J.: When openness to experience and conscientiousness are related to creative behavior: an interactional approach. J. Appl. Psychol. 86, 513–524 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Getzel J.W., Jackson P.W.: Creativity and Intelligence: Exploration with Gifted Children. Wiley, New York (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghiselin B.: Ultimate criteria for two levels of creativity. In: Taylor, C.W., Barron, F. (eds) Scientific Creativity: Its Recognition and Development, pp. 30–43. Wiley, New York (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilad B.: Entrepreneurship: the issue of creativity in the market place. J. Creat. Behav. 18, 151–161 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert F.W., Prenshaw P.J., Ivy T.T.: A preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of creativity training in marketing. J. Market. Educ. 18, 46–56 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guilford J.P.: Creativity. Am. Psychol. 5, 444–454 (1950)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guilford J.P.: Way Beyond the IQ. Creative Education Foundation, Buffalo (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hervani A., Helms M.M.: Increasing creativity in economics: the service learning project. J. Educ. Bus. 79(5), 267–274 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hitchfield E.M.: In Search of Promise. William Clowes and Sons, London (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang J.J., Tzeng G.H., Ong C.S.: Multidimensional data in multidimensional scaling using the analytic network process. Pattern Recogn. Lett. 26, 755–767 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James K.: Goal conflict and originality of thinking. Creat. Res. J. 8, 270–285 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasoff J.: Creativity and breadth of attention. Creat. Res. J. 10, 303–316 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz A.H.: Creativity and the right cerebral hemisphere: towards a physiological based theory of creativity. J. Creat. Behav. 12, 253–264 (1978)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman J.C., Lee J., Baer J., Lee S.: Captions, consistency, creativity, and the consensual assessment technique: new evidence of reliability. Think. Skills Creat. 2, 96–106 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni D., Simon H.: The process of scientific discovery: the strategy of experimentation. Cogn. Sci. 12, 129–175 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonard D.: Wellsprings of Knowledge. Harvard Business School Press, Boston (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin C.J., Wu W.W.: A causal analytical method for group decision-making under fuzzy environment. Expert Syst. Appl. 34(1), 205–213 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liou J.H., Tzeng G.H., Chang H.C.: Airline safety measurement using a hybrid model. J. Air Transp. Manag. 13(4), 243–249 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lubart, T.I., Guignard, J.H.: The generality specificity of creativity: a multivariate approach. In: Sternberg, R.J., Grigorenko, E., Singer, J.L. Creativity: From Potential to Realization, APA, Washington (2004)

  • Magee G.B.: Rethinking invention: cognition and the economics of technological creativity. J. Econ. Behav. Organ. 57, 29–48 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martindale C.: Personality, situation, and creativity. In: Glover, J.A., Ronning, R.R., Reynolds, C.R. (eds) Handbook of Creativity, pp. 211–232. Plenum Press, New York (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  • McCloskey D.N.: 1066 and a wave of gadgets: the achievements of British growth. In: Gouk, P. (ed.) Wellsprings of Achievement: Cultural and Economic Dynamics in Early Modern England and Japan, pp. 114–132. Variorum, Aldershot (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  • Meek V.L.: Diversity and marketisation of higher education: incompatible concepts. High. Educ. Policy 13, 23–39 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education: The White Paper of Creative Education. Ministry of Education, Taipei (2002)

  • Mody A., Yilmaz K.: Imported machinery for export competitiveness. World Bank Econ. Rev. 16(1), 23–48 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mokyr J.: The Gifts of Athena: Historical Origins of the Knowledge Economy. Princeton University Press, Princeton (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Momoh J.A., Zhu J.: Optimal generation scheduling based on AHP/ANP. IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybernet. B 33(3), 531–535 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss S.A.: The impact of environmental clues in problem solving and incubation: the moderating effect of ability. Creat. Res. J. 14, 207–211 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mumford M.D., Gustafson S.B.: Creativity syndrome: integration, application, and innovation. Psychol. Bull. 103, 27–43 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mumford M.D.: Managing creative people: strategies and tactics for innovation. Hum. Resour. Manag. Rev. 3(3), 313–351 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mumford M.D.: Where have we been, where are we going? Taking stock in creativity research. Creat. Res. J. 15, 107–120 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mumford M.D., Reiter-Palmon R., Redmond M.R.: Problem construction and cognition: applying problem representations in ill-defined domains. In: Runco, M.A. (ed.) Problem Finding, Problem Solving, and Creativity, pp. 3–39. Ablex, Norwood (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Oldham G.R., Cummings A.: Employee creativity: personal and contextual factors at work. Acad. Manag. J. 39, 607–634 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owens W.A.: Cognitive, non-cognitive, and environmental correlates of mechanical ingenuity. J. Appl. Psychol. 53, 199–208 (1969)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin Y., Simon H.A.: Laboratory replication of scientific discovery processes. Cogn. Sci. 14, 281–312 (1990)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redmond M.R., Mumford M.D., Teach R.J.: Putting creativity to work: leader influences on subordinate creativity. Organ. Behav. Hum. Decis. Process. 55, 120–151 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ripple, R.G.: Teaching creativity. In: Encyclopedia of Creativity, pp. 629–638. Academic Press, San Diego (1999)

  • Runco M.A., Chand I.: Problem finding, evaluation thinking, and creativity. In: Runco, M.A. (ed.) Problem Finding, Problem Solving, and Creativity, pp. 40–76. Ablex, Norwood (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Saaty J.T.: The Analytic Hierarchy Process. McGraw-Hill, Columbus (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez M.P., Elena S.: Intellectual capital in universities improving transparency and internal management. J. Intellect. Cap. 7(4), 529–539 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott R.K.: Creative employees: a challenge to managers. J. Creat. Behav. 29, 64–71 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shalley C.E.: Effects of productivity goals, creativity goals, and personal discretion on individual creativity. J. Appl. Psychol. 76, 179–185 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shin S.J., Zhou J.: Transformational leadership, conservation, and creativity: evidence from Korea. Acad. Manag. J. 45(6), 703–714 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegelman M.: Parent behavior correlates of personality traits related to creativity in sons and daughters. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 40, 43–47 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simonton D.K.: Age and outstanding achievement: what do we know after a century of research?. Psychol. Bull. 104, 251–267 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg R.J.: The Nature of Creativity: Contemporary Psychological Perspectives. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg R.J.: The Nature of Cognition. MIT, Cambridge (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg R.J.: Wisdom, Intelligence, and Creativity Synthesized. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2003)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg R.J.: Creativity or creativities?. Int. J. Human-Computer Stud. 63, 370–382 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg R.J., Davidson J.E.: Cognitive development of the gifted and talented. In: Horowitz, F.D., O’brien, M. (eds) The Gifted and Talented: A Developmental Perspective, American Psychological Association, Washington (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  • Tardif T.Z., Sternberg R.J.: What do we know about creativity?. In: Sternberg, R.J. (ed.) The Nature of Creativity: Contemporary Psychological Perspectives, pp. 429–440. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, C.W.: Various approaches to and definitions of creativity. In: The Nature of Creativity: Contemporary Psychological Perspectives. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1988)

  • Tierney P., Farmer S.M., Graen G.B.: An examination of leadership and employee creativity: the relevance of traits and relationships. Pers. Psychol. 52, 591–620 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torrance, E.P.: Creativity: What Research Says to the Teacher. Association of Classroom Teachers of the National Education Association, Washington (1963)

  • Tzeng G.H., Chiang C.H., Li C.W.: Evaluating intertwined effects in e-learning programs: a novel hybrid MCDM model based on factor analysis and DEMATEL. Expert Syst. Appl. 32(4), 1028–1044 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walberg H.J.: Creativity and talent as learning. In: Sternberg, R.J. (ed.) The Nature of Creativity, pp. 340–361. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weifens P., Addison J., Audretsch D., Gries T., Grupp H.: Globalization, Economic Growth and Innovation Dynamics. Springer, Berlin (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner R.P.: Creativity and Beyond: Cultures, Values, and Change. State University of New York Press, Albany (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisburg R.W.: Creativity: Genius and Other Myths. Freeman, New York (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  • Whiting B.G.: Creativity and entrepreneurship: how do they relate?. J. Creat. Behav. 22, 178–183 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williamson B.: Lifeworlds and Learning: Essays in the Theory, Philosophy and Practice of Lifelong Learning. National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education, Leicester (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson B.: Creativity, the corporate curriculum and the future: a case study. Futures 33, 541–555 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfradt U., Pretz J.: Individual differences in creativity: personality, story writing, and hobbies. Eur. J. Pers. 15, 297–310 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodman R.W., Schoenfeldt L.F.: Individual differences in creativity: an interactionist perspective. In: Glover, J.A., Ronning, R.R., Reynolds, C.R. (eds) Handbook of Creativity: Perspectives on Individual Differences, pp. 3–32. Plenum Press, New York (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodman R.W., Sawyer J.E., Griffin R.W.: Toward a theory of organizational creativity. Acad. Manag. Rev. 18, 293–321 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, H.Y., Chen, H.C., Huang, R.J., Chen, I.S.: A study on the critical evaluation factors of creativity for college students. Manuscript submitted to a journal (2009)

  • Wu H.Y., Chen J.K., Chen I.S.: Innovation capital indicator assessment of Taiwanese universities: a hybrid fuzzy model application. Expert Syst. Appl. 37(2), 1635–1642 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wynder M.: Facilitating creativity in management accounting: a computerized simulation. Account. Educ. 13, 150–231 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y.P., Shieh H.M., Leu J.D., Tzeng G.H.: A novel hybrid MCDM model combined with DEMATEL and ANP with applications. Int. J. Oper. Res. 5(3), 160–168 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu R., Tseng G.H.: A soft computing method for multi-criteria decision making with dependence and feedback. Appl. Math. Comput. 180(1), 63–75 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J.: Feedback balance, feedback style, task autonomy, and achievement origination: interactive effects on creative performance. J. Appl. Psychol. 83, 261–276 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J.: When the presence of creative coworkers is related to creativity: role of supervisor close monitoring, developmental feedback, and creative personality. J. Appl. Psychol. 88, 413–422 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J., George J.M.: When job dissatisfaction leads to creativity: encouraging the expression of voice. Acad. Manag. J. 44, 682–696 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou J., George J.M.: Awakening employee creativity: the role of leader emotional intelligence. Leadersh. Q. 14, 545–568 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman H., Cole J.R.: Research strategies in science: a preliminary inquiry. Creat. Res. J. 7, 391–406 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jui-Kuei Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, JK., Chen, IS. Critical creativity criteria for students in higher education: taking the interrelationship effect among dimensions into account. Qual Quant 46, 1057–1075 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-011-9448-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-011-9448-7

Keywords

Navigation