Some correlates of creativity in engineering personnel

Abstract

This study tested recently developed criteria and predictors of scientific creativity in an industrial setting—specifically, in an applied engineering division of a company manufacturing consumer goods. The California Psychological Inventory (CPI), the Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI), the Welsh Figure Preference Test (FPT), the Social Insight Test (SIT), Gough's Adjective Check List (ACL), the Concept Mastery Test (CMT), and the Biographical Information (form) for Research and Scientific Talent (BIRST) were correlated with supervisor and peer ratings of creativity in 58 engineering and technical personnel. The most significant correlations were obtained between the criteria and the ACL and BIRST. These results confirm other research findings which suggest that self-reports and biographical data, especially those which describe interests or achievements of a creative nature, are currently the most effective predictors of creative performance in real-life situations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)