Creativity Among Working Writers: A Validation of the Scale of Creative Attributes and Behavior
Author(s): Kathryn E. Kelly
Abstract: Creativity is a multidimensional construct influenced by personality, motivation, and engagement in creative activity. The Scale of Creative Attributes and Behavior (SCAB; Kelly, 2004) was developed to assess creativity across five components—creative engagement, creative cognitive style, spontaneity, tolerance, and fantasy. This brief report examined the criterion validity of the SCAB using a sample of professional writers (n = 83) and college students (n = 85). Analyses of covariance, controlling age, indicated that writers scored significantly higher on the SCAB total scale than students. Multivariate analysis revealed significant group differences for creative engagement, cognitive style, and fantasy, but not for spontaneity or tolerance. These findings provide further support for the SCAB as a valid measure of creative personality and behavior and suggest that real-world creative engagement is associated with higher selfreported creativity, particularly in domains requiring imaginative and cognitively flexible thought.
Keywords: Creativity; Creative behavior; Personality assessment; Criterion validity; Individual differences; Writers; Divergent thinking; Creative cognition
Article: e14004
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