Perceived creativity, set, and preference for simple or complex shapes.

Abstract

82 female student nurses were asked to choose their three most preferred polygons from 12 presented to them. Half the Ss were instructed that the top row, which contained the simplest shapes, are preferred by creative people. The other half of the Ss were instructed that the bottom row, which contained the complex shapes, are preferred by creative people. Each S also stated whether or not she perceived of herself as creative. Their sets significantly affected choices, with Ss choosing the simple or complex polygons in accord with the kind they were told creative Ss choose. Perceived creativity tended to be related to choice of complex polygons, but this trend did not reach statistical significance.