Creative Problem Solving Preferences: Their Identification and Implications

Abstract

Creative problem solving has been one of the most widely used and researched creative process models. The purpose of this study was to explore individuals’ preferences for different aspects of this model. The main premise to this research is that the creative problem solving process involves a series of distinct mental operations (i.e, collecting information, defining problems, generating ideas, developing solutions, and taking action) and people will express different degrees of preference for these various operations within the model. This study describes the development of the Buffalo Creative Process Inventory, a measure designed to identify preferences in terms of the major operations within Creative Problem Solving. Factor analysis, and correlations with two established style measures, indicate much promise for this new measure.