Bar Drinks, Rugas, and Gay Pride Parades: Is Creative Behavior a Function of Creative Self-Efficacy?

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the relationship between creative self-efficacy and creative behavior through an open-ended survey. A 10-question survey was collected from 242 college students, asking about their creative behavior, and what they believed about their own creative abilities. Creative behavior does appear to be a function of creative self-efficacy. However, this study also found that 21% (23/109) of this student sample reported high levels of creative self-efficacy but low levels of creative behavior. There was also a group of students (12.7% or 6/47) who reported low levels of creative self-efficacy but high levels of creative behavior. The students in these two groups appeared to be influenced by a number of myths and misconceptions they held about creativity.