Advancement of Divergent Thinking Assessment

Divergent thinking (DT) tests represent the dominant approach in the assessment of individual differences in the human creative cognitive potential. These DT tests (for example, find creative uses for everyday objects) do not have single correct solutions but rather many possible solutions that may differ in their creative quality (novelty and effectiveness). DT test have been used for more than 50 years, but there are still varied approaches on how to implement and score them, as well as persistent concerns regarding their psychometric quality. Therefore, this project will realize a systematic investigation of the optimal test conditions of these standard measures of creativity research. To this end, the project will 1) review the variety and validity evidence of available methods, 2) study specific promising advancements in more detail, and 3) directly compare novel and established methods. In sum, this will allow us to derive evidence-based recommendations for more valid DT assessments, aiming to support a more consistent and effective creativity research.