Are Good Problem-Solvers Also Creative?

Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether Ss, superior in solving difficult problems having objectively correct solutions, also achieve solutions rated “creative” or superior for a problem with several possible answers. To avoid the issue of sex differences, only female Ss were used (96 from a university and 55 from a junior college). Four difficult objective-type problems were used to measure problem-solving ability and the “Changing Work Procedure” (CWP) problem was used for the subjective measure. The case produces 3 types of solutions. One type, called Integrative, was regarded as “creative” and “superior” in previous studies. The results showed a significantly better performance on all problems for the university than the junior college sample. Ss who reached the Integrative solution solved significantly more of the objective problems, and an increasing trend for Integrative solutions with increasing success on objective problems was evident for both populations. It is concluded that superior problem solvers also generate solutions that are rated as creative when several solutions to a given problem are possible.