6 dimensions of Creativity
Measuring Creativity We can understand, improve upon something professionally only when we are able to measure it.
There have been various standardized (A technical term meaning the test has been scientifically designed, tested over a large population) and non standardized tests to measure different dimensions of creativity. Among the most famous are Guilford - Merrifield test, Torrance Tests of Creativity. Back home, Baker Mehendi test, Passi test of creativity are known works. I too had developed a tool Moghe Test of Creativity in mathematics to measure mathematical creativity, did not standardized it.
The measurable dimensions of the construct of creativity are
Sensitivity
Flexibility
Fluency
Originality
Elaboration
Re-definition
Traditionally, flexibility, fluency and were the dimensions to measure. But let's see all the six and what all they mean.
Sensitivity Also referred to as the ability of seeing the problem, a difficulty is faced by the observer. When all, by convenience or by neglect are indifferent to an issue, our creative child (adult as well) is very sensitive about the issue. To give a social example, Indore where I live, was just like a any other upcoming city, full of dust, dirt, stinking heaps of garbage. Our City Mayor Mrs. Malini Gaur, a simple housewife till her husband untimely demise, changed everything within the same rules, regulations, bureaucracy. Because she saw the problem, felt the difficulty. Today, four times in a row, Indore is India’s cleanest city award winner. Likewise, when super powers were trembling in COVID, India worked quietly on vaccines. So, take pride if your child / spouse / colleague is sensitive.
Flexibility means how many variations you can create in searching the solution. To illustrate with another publicly known example, to consolidate our defence system, the Government of India worked on many key dimensions like defence procurement for land, air, sea safety, putting technology driven border infiltration control, empowering the defence officers to take their professional decisions and so on. Flexibility has both components: a new dimension and its being useful too.
Fluency refers to the number relevant answers given or solutions provided. Brain storming is one of the popular techniques to elicit ideational fluency responses. Here, a problem is posted to the meeting and the host just keeps noting all ideas in a run. Later on, they are judged to be relevant or not. Good number of times companies, even the government agencies conduct campaigns to suggest a logo, a slogan. Then it decides which is the most relevant one. So, if someone around you speaks, writes, a lot. Just channelise him / her energies.
Originality is very rare to see quality. Very philosophically speaking, other than the alphabet, 7 music notes, 10 digits, 3 colour, nothing is original. All thoughts have been said by someone already. Dr Martin Luther King Jr was inspired by Gandhi, who was inspired by Unto This Last, whose author was inspired by the Upanishad. However, originality to measured, refers to the conceptual jump, variant from others’ answers. Different from flexibility, which refers to the number of variations in approach, originality refers to finding totally unthought of solution. Like Einstein put speed as a dimension and changed all laws know to mankind till then.
Elaboration refers to describing details. Used in the field of artistic creativity, imagery, the artist may be describing her idea through detailing it. Like we see the beautiful sand art work by Patnaik on any good public achievement occasion. Decorating home with new Rangoli, desire to put new mehandi all comes very naturally to young girls as they want to express something. But we, the educated, cultured, parents butcher it. Some schools too take pride in punishing such adventures. And then we send them to workshops for developing creativity. Please let the child express herself.
Re-definition is the ability to restate the issue under discussion. Redefining, when done realistically, helps a lot in getting different, more productive outcomes. Once again we see a social example. I like social examples as they are known to all, can be easily varied. Until recently, India was the biggest and most gullible market for the multinational fast moving consumer goods companies. Come Baba Ramdev ji on the scene, reciting Swadeshi, rules have changed. Likewise, India, who begged for 47 tonnes of gold, is today having few lac crore just as GST revenue collected per month just by appealing people to feel they a nation.
Creativity, thus, is not something too much of a luxury few can afford. It is more of a mindset to develop than something for a chosen few.
On this International Women's Day let us rededicate ourselves to let a child speak, let her draw Rangoli, mehendi, scribble on the wall, waste few papers in what you perceive as useless, time wasting activities, but which are steps on ladder of creativity.
Dr Prakash Moghe
Moghe Education Consultancy
8085906062, 7489447223
drpnmoghe@gmail.com
Wow dad, it's great to have such a broad mindset and indeed nobody is a born artist, every one has a set of skills which need to be harnessed with such a mindset
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