Creativity Styles Questionnaire-Revised pr. V. K. Kumar & Dr. E. R. Holman West Chester University The purpose of this questionnaire is to see how people go about accomplishing the creative act. The term "creative" is used in the sense of doing everyday things in new ways: solving the problems of daily living and the world of work, engaging in scientific or other research, writing, painting, developing music etc. We want to know about your own style for creative work. A number of statements are listed below which reflect different ways one goes about being creative in everyday life. Read each statement, decide how well the statement applies to you and respond by using the following 5-point scale: (L) Strongly agree (2) Agree (3) Unsure (4) Disagree (5) Strongly Disagree If you are answering on a computer response sheet, please fill in the circle (number) corresponding to your level of agreement using a #2 pencil. If you are answering on the questionnaire itself, please respond by filling in the circle below the appropriate response using a #2 pencil. Please keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers, we just want to know the way you typically go about doing creative work. It is best that you do not think about any question for too long. Rather, try to work quickly. Your answers will be treated confidentially, and will be used for research purposes only. Please respond to all statements. Thank you for your cooperation. Copyright © 1997 by V. K. Kumar, Correspondence about this questionnaire may be addressed to: V.K. Kumar, Ph.D.; Department of Psychology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383.I consider myself to be a creative | SA aG UN DA sD person. ° ° ey Q ° I am engaged in creative type work | SA AG UN DA sD on a regular basis. ° ° ° Qo Qo Creative ideas simply occur to me SA aG UN DA sD without even thinking about them. Q Q Q ° ° I typically wait for a flash of SA AG UN DA sD inspiration before I begin ° ° ° ° ° working. I would describe my style of SA AG UN DA sD creativity as erratic or ° ° ° ° ° nonsystematic. I have had insights, the sources SA AG UN DA sD of which I am unable to explain or | O ° ° ° ° understand. I believe in unconscious processes | SA AG UN DA sD that facilitate my creative work. ° [e} Qo o 9 In my work there are often long sa aG UN DA sD gaps during which I have no ° ° fey ° ° motivation. I have been able to use many ideas | sa aG UN DA sD for creative work that have ° ° fey ° ° occurred in my dreams. 10|/1 must be emotionally moved in SA AG uN DA sD order to be creative. Q ° ° Q ° 11} 1 have to be in the right mood or SA AG uN DA sD feeling to do creative work. ° Q ° ° ° 12] When I get a new idea, I get SA AG UN DA sD totally absorbed by it until I ° ° ° ° ° have pursued it completely. 13} I feel that new ideas possess me SA ac uN DA sD and guide me through to completion | O ° ° ° ° almost_automatically. 14] I believe that creativity comes SA aG UN DA sD from hard work and persistence. ° ° ° ° ° as} My creativity comes from careful SA AG UN DA sD planning and forethought . ° Q ° ° ° 16 | I practice to be creative. SA ac uN DA sD ° ° ° ° °Kumar & Holman Creativity Questionnaire 17] My creativity comes from self- SA ac w DA sp discipline. ° Q ° Q ° 18] 1 attribute my creativity to SA aG UN DA sD divine inspiration. Q ° ° ey ° 19] 1 tend to lose my sense of time SA aG UN DA sD when I am engaged in creative work ° ° ° Q ° 20] 7 keep a pen/notepad/tape recorder | SA aG UN DA sD handy to record new ideas as they ° ° ° ° ° occur. 21] I often let my mind wander to come | SA AG UN DA sD up with new ideas. ° ° ° ° 9 22||I typically create new ideas by SA AG UN DA sb systematically modifying (by ° fey fe) ° ° substituting, rearranging, elaborating, etc) an existing idea. 23) I typically create new ideas by SA AG uN DA sD combining existing ideas. ° ° ° ° ° 24 | When I examine existing products, SA AG UN DA sD I usually critically evaluate them | O ° ° ° ° to see how I can improve them. 25 | I have often gone back to ideas SA AG UN DA sD that I have rejected before. Q ° ° ° ° 26] 1 am always thinking (fantasizing) SA aG uw DA sD about how to do everyday things ° ° ° ° ° differently. 27) 1 typically modify an existing SA ac UN DA sD idea only slightly, one step at a ° ° ° ° ° time. 28 | 1 deliberately reject or ignore SA aG UN DA sD conventional or already accepted ° ° ° 3 ° ideas to come up with new ideas. 29] I often look for new ideas outside | sA AG UN DA sD of my own field, and try to apply ° ° fey ° ° them to my own. 30] I tend to work on many ideas SA aG UN DA sD simultaneously. ° Q ° ° ° 31] 7 often use the technique of SA AG UN DA sD brainstorming to come up with new ° ° ° ° ° ideas. 32) I have maintained a notebook/diary | sa AG UN Da sDKumar & Holman Creativity Questionnaire of new ideas that I would like to oO o o o o ursue some day. When I am generating new ideas, I SA aG UN DA sD do not tend to evaluate them until | oO ° ° ° ° I have generated many ideas. I do a lot of experimentation SA AG UN DA sD (trial and error) to come up with ° ° ° ° fey a new workable idea. When I get stuck, I tend to leave SA AG UN DA sp the idea for a while, do something | O ° ° ° ° else, before returning to work on it. I take walks to come up with new SA AG UN DA sD ideas. 9 9 Qo 8 Qo I read widely to come up with new SA AG uN DA sD ideas. Qo ° ° ° Q When I have a new idea, I tend to SA AG UN DA sD discuss it with someone to ° ° ° ° ° determine its potential for success. 39 | When I get stuck, I consult or SA AG UN DA sD talk with other people about how ° ° ° ° ° to proceed. 40] 1 am at my creative best when I SA AG UN DA sD work alone. ° ° 9° ° ° 41] I am at my creative best when I SA AG uN DA sD work with one other person. ° ° ° ° ° 42| 1 am at my creative best when I SA aG UN DA sD work in a group. ° ° ° ° Q 43) I am secretive about my new ideas. | SA AG UN DA sD ° ° ° ° ° 44| 1 typically show my creative SA AG uN DA sD products to other people. QO ° ° ° Q 45|/I physically isolate myself from SA AG uN DA SA other people when I am working on ° ° ° ° ° creative ideas. 46 1 physically isolate myself from SA as UN DA sD other people to come up with new ° ° ° ° ° ideas. 471 have often pursued bad or SA aG uw DA sD unworkable ideas for a long time. Q Q ° Q °Kumar & Holman Creativity Questionnaire 4S] usually have a lot of both SA AG ww DA SD workable and unworkable ideas. Q ° ° ° ° 49|/1 work most creatively when I have | SA AG UN DA sD deadlines. o o ° o ° 50} If I do not have a concrete SA aG UN DA sD (visible) creative product to show | O ° ° ° ° (e.g., written composition, work of art or music, etc.), then I think I have failed. 51} 1 enjoy the process of creating SA aG UN DA sD new ideas whether they lead to a ° ° ° ° ° final product or not. 52 When I have completed a creative SA ac UN DA sD product, I am unable to start ona | O ° ° ° ° new project for a long time. 53|/I think a final product that is SA AG UN DA sD not readily observable through the | O ° ° ° ° senses can emerge in a creative act. 54/1 have set aside a particular SA AG UN DA sD place (or places) for creative ° ° ° ° ° work. 55| 1 have set aside a particular time | sA AG UN DA sD (or times) for creative work. ° ° ° ° ° 56] I have a particular place (or SA aG UN DA sD places) where I do most of my ° ° ° ° ° creative thinking. 57] I have a particular time (or SA ac uN DA sD times) during the day when I do my | O ° ° ° ° creative thinking. 58|/I tend to smoke (cigarette, pipe, SA AG UN DA sD cigar) before beginning creative 3° ° ° ° ° work. 59) I tend to drink tea/coffee/other SA aG uN DA sD drinks with caffeine before ° ° ° ° ° beginning creative work. 60] I tend to smoke frequently when SA aG uw DA sD engaged in creative work. Q Q ° ° ° 61] I tend to drink a lot of SA AG uw DA sD tea/coffee/other drinks with ° ° ° ° ° caffeine when engaged in creative work.Kumar & Holman Creativity Questionnaire 62] 1 ordinarily smoke after I have SA AG OW DA SD worked on my creative idea(s) for ° ° ° ° ° a designated period of time. 63) 1 ordinarily drink SA AG uN DA sD tea/coffee/other drinks with ° ° ° ° ° caffeine after I have worked on my creative ideas for a designated | period of time. 64] I reward myself in some way after SA aG UN DA sD I have worked on my creative ° ° ° ° ° idea(s) for a designated period of time. 65| 1 tend to do my creative work ina | SA aG UN DA sD quiet place. 2 2° o 2 8 66 | I typically have background music SA AG UN DA sD when I am engaged in creative 3° Qo ° ° ° work. 67] I use alcohol to get into a mood SA AG UN DA sD for creative work. Q ° ° ° Q 68| 1 use mind altering substances SA AG UN DA sD (other than alcohol) to get intoa | O ° ° ° ° creative mood. 69] 1 typically start my creative work | sa AG UN DA sD with a prayer. ° Q Q ° Q 70 I typically meditate before 1 SA AG UN DA sD begin my creative work. ° ° Qo Q ° 711 tend to snack when I am engaged SA AG UN DA sD in creative work. ey 3 Qo ° Q 72 I have a favorite tool (a certain SA AG uN DA sD pen/easel/thinking cap, etc.) ° ° ° ° ° without which I would find it hard to concentrate when I am engaged in creative work. 73] 1 have a favorite amulet or SA AG UN DA sD clothing that I wear when I am ° ° ° }° ° engaged in creative work. 744) 1 tend to use my visual sense a SA AG UN DA sD lot_in my creative work. ° ° ° Q Q 75 I tend to use my sense of hearing SA aG UN DA sD a lot in my creative work. 3° ° ° 3° ° 76 | 1 tend to use my sense of touch a SA AG UN DA sD lot_in my creative work. ° ° ° Q QKumar & Holman Creativity Questionnaire T tend to use my sense of taste a SH RG ww DE SD lot in my creative work. ° ° ° ° Q I tend to use my sense of smell a SA as UN DA sp lot in my creative work. ° ° °Creati vit EA Questionnaire-Revised Dr. V. K. Kumar & Dr. E. R. Holman Department of Psychology, West Chester University, PA 19383 SCORING KEY ‘The Creativity Styles Questionnaire-Revised consists of 8 scales. Since the questionnaire uses a 5-point scale with Strongly Agree (1), Agree (2), Unsure (3), Disagree (4), and Strongly Disagree (5), many of the items on the questionnaire are to be reversed for scoring [i.e., Strongly Agree (5), Agree (4), Unsure (3), Disagree 2 and sol Disagree (1). peseaienselia 2S 6a ~ ‘umar and Holman's Global Mc tivity Capacity. The scale consists of two items, ‘and measures the extent to which a person perceives herself/himself to be creative. Higher scores on the scale are reflective of higher perceived creativity. A person's score is derived by adding the ratings on the following two items: 10,20 Alpha reliability for this scale was found to be .76. I. Belief in Unconscious Processes. Items on this scale measure the extent to which a person believes in the creative process as insightful and inspirational over which he/she has little control. Higher scores on the scale indicate greater belief in unconscious process as significant to creative work. A person's score is derived by adding the ratings on the following 17 items and dividing by 17 3(-) through 13(-) [all to be reversed], 14, 15, 16, 17, 18(-), 19(-) Alpha reliability for this scale was found to be 0.70. ‘TW Use of Techniques: Items in this scale measure the extent to which a person uses specific strategies or techniques to facilitate his/her creative work. Higher scores reflect greater use of different techniques. A person's score is derived by adding the ratings on the following 18 items and dividing by 18: 20(-) through 37(-) [all to be reversed]. Alpha reliability for this scale was found to be .81. IV.-Use of Other People. The items on the scale reflect the extent to which a person consults other people, work with other people, or share ideas or creative products with other people. Higher scores indicate higher use of other people. A person's score is derived by adding the ratings on the following 9 items and dividing by 9:38(-), 39(-), 40, 41(-), 42(-), 43, 44(-), 45, 46. Alpha reliability for this scale was found to be .74 \V. Final Product Orientation. The items on the scale reflect the extent to which people are motivated to engage in creative work by the development of a final product. Higher scores reflect a higher product orientation. A person's score is derived by adding the ratings on the following 7 items and dividing by 7: 47, 48, 49(-), 50(-), 51, 52(-), 53. Alpha reliability for this scale was found to be .45 SE Environmental Control/Behavioral Self-Regulation. The items on the scale measure the extent to which a person sets up discriminative stimuli to self-regulate, or facilitate his/her creative work. Higher scores indicate a person, Higher scores indicate person setting up more number of discriminative stimuli to facilitate her/his creative work. A person's score is derived by adding the ratings on the following 18 items and dividing by 18: items 54(-) through 71(-) [all to be reversed). Alpha reliability for this scale was found to be .83. ‘VIL. Superstition: The items on the scale measure the extent to which a person engages in superstitious behavior to facilitate creative work. Higher scores indicate more superstitious behavior. A person's score is derived by adding the ratings on the following 2 items and dividing by2: 72), 73). Alpha reliability for this scale was found to be .72. “Use of the Senses: The items on this scale measure the extent to which a person uses the five senses for creative work. Higher scores indicate greater use of the senses. A person's score is derived by adding the ratings on the following 5 items and dividing by 5: items 74(-) through 78(-) [all to be reversed]. Alpha reliability for this scale was found to be .76. Please note the appropriate citation for the questionnaire is as follows: Kumar, V. K. & Holman, E. R. (1997). The Creativity Styles Questionnaire--Revised Unpublished Psychological Test. Department of Psychology, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA 19383 References: 1. Kumar, V. K. & Holman, E. R., & Rudegeair, P. (1991), Creativity styles of freshmen students. Jounal of Creative Behavior, 25. 51-58. 2. Kumar, V. K., Kemmler, D., & Holman, E.R. (1997). The Creativity styles questionnaire- Revised. Creativity Research Journal, 10(1), 320-323. 3. Pollick, M., & Kumar, V.K. (1997), Creativity styles of supervising managers. Journal of Creative Behavior, 31, 260-270,