Abstract
The study examines how the remote associates test (RAT) has been used to examine theories of creativity through a review of recent studies on creativity. Creativity-related studies published between 2000 and 2019 were retrieved from the SCOPUS database. A total of 172 papers were chosen for further analysis. Content analysis shows that research on creativity using RAT mainly concerns remote association, insight problem-solving, general creative process, test development, individual difference, effect of treatment, clinical case, social interaction effect, and predictor or criterion. The study constructs a theoretical framework based on the 4P (Product–Person–Process–Place) model and demonstrates how empirical studies using the RAT explore the individual differences, internal processes, and external influences of creative thinking. In addition, the most commonly used version of the RAT is the Compound Remote Associates Problems (Bowden and Jung-Beeman, 2003a). Current research shows a trend whereby the creative thinking process has been receiving greater attention. In particular, a growing number of studies in this field have been carried out using cognitive neuroscience technologies. These findings suggest that the RAT provides researchers with a way to deepen their understanding of different levels of creativity.
Highlights
Creativity is a complicated cognitive function; it has been given various definitions by scholars from diverse backgrounds specializing in different research orientations on creativity (Sternberg and Lubart, 1999)
172 of the 256 papers retrieved from the literature database SCOPUS were chosen to systematically review how remote associates test (RAT) was used to investigate creativity from 2000 to 2019
The framework of empirical studies using the RAT based on the 4P model demonstrates how this measure can be used to explore the effects of individual differences, internal processes, and personal–environment interactions on creative thinking
Summary
Creativity is a complicated cognitive function; it has been given various definitions by scholars from diverse backgrounds specializing in different research orientations on creativity (Sternberg and Lubart, 1999). The 4Ps Model of Creativity (Rhodes, 1961) is often cited as a theoretical framework. It examines novel and appropriate products created by an individual, explores the personality of the creative person, analyzes the environment that enables people to produce creativity, and studies the process of how individuals generate creativity. Regardless of the research orientation, a tool that measures creativity with high reliability and validity is essential. The remote associates test (RAT) is a reliable tool that evaluates individuals’ creative potential (Mednick, 1968). The creative process during remote associates problem solving involves two stages—an initial divergent stage of idea generation and a convergent stage of solution matching and evaluation (Smith et al, 2013).
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