A study of engineers' criteria for creativity

Abstract

"The meaning of creativity was investigated by asking engineers in a large industrial firm to give reasons why men they had ranked highest in creativity differed from those ranked lowest… . The sample consisted of 36 men from research groups, 36 from service groups, and 35 from project groups… . six criteria for creativity used… . These men also justified their rankings on creativity of answers to brief open-end engineering problems. No significant differences in the bases for such judgments were noted between engineers and supervisors of engineers. The content analysis results verified a widespread impression in the literature that the novelty and worth of ideas are important factors in creativity. It also brought out other factors… . such as independence in problem solving and the achievement of comprehensive answers." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)