Are Creativity Tests Vulnerable to Coaching?

ABSTRACT

This study tested the claim that coaching on a widely used creativity measure can improve respondents’ scores on that measure – specifically whether those who receive explicit coaching on the scoring of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking-Figural (TTCT-F) get higher subsequent scores on the test. A total of 35 adults were included in the treatment and reference groups. The treatment condition was defined as receiving coaching on how to score the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking-Figural (TTCT-F) and training on creative teaching strategies. The reference condition was defined as receiving training on general creativity skills and creative teaching strategies, but no coaching on how to score the TTCT-F. An ANCOVA was conducted to account for differences in the posttest scores by group while controlling the effect of pretest scores as covariates. The result of the ANCOVA indicated that the treatment group dropped significantly on the fluency subscale, $F_{\left(1,32\right)}$ = 9.73, $\mathit{p}$ < .001 from pretest to posttest. Findings imply that TTCT-F scores do not benefit from specific coaching on test scoring.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).