This interesting video explains, quite simply, some of the models of human intelligence.

https://youtu.be/9xTz3QjcloI

Among the many models of human intelligence we find the triarchic theory of intelligence, developed by Robert Sternberg (1998), according to which, intelligence is comprised of three parts : practical, creative, and analytical intelligence. Creativity is therefore considered one of the form in which intelligence can manifest itself.

The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT), developed by Dr. E. Paul Torrance in 1966, is by far the most used test for measuring creativity “as the main cognitive factors to define and assess creativity” (Almeida et al, 2008, p. 5). The TTCT has two subtests : verbal and figural. Both subtests aim at assessing 4 cognitive processes of creativity (Almeida et al, 2008, p. 2):

1. fluency or number of relevant responses
2. flexibility as referred to a variety of categories or shifts in responses
3. originality entails considering novelty responses, not familiar and unusual, but relevant;
4. elaboration as referred to the number of details used to extend a response

The test could be administered in groups or as an individual test and it requires 30 minutes of working time (Kim, 2006). When Torrance designed his test, “his primary goals [...] were to help us better understand the human mind and its functioning; to find ways to better individualize instruction, including remedial and psychotherapeutic interventions; to evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs; and to become more sensitive to latent potential in people” (Kaufman and Baer, 2006).

The verbal subtest include several tasks :

• Unusual Uses
• Impossibilities task
• Consequences task
• Just suppose task
• Situations task
• Common problems task
• Improvement task
• Imaginative stories task
• Ask and guess task
• Product improvement task

The figural subtest included, as well, several tasks:

• Incomplete figures task
• Picture construction task or shapes task
• Circles and squares task
• Creative design task

STRENGHTS

• Being the most used test for measuring creativity implies that a lot of research and analysis has been conducted to prove its validity
• It requires a short time for administration
• It’s easy to administer
• It can be used from kindergarten to 30 years old and beyond
• The administration, scoring procedures and norms are standardized, making it a helpful test to identify talented student
• The figural subtest make it fair in terms of gender, social status, language background and culture

WEAKNESS

• Some studies are currently questioning its validity (Almeida et al, 2008) showing, for example “inconsistency of the cognitive processes (fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration)".
• A new figural addition was made in 1998 for which the reliability and validity have not yet been provided.
• Torrance himself (1974, cited by Kim, 2006) demonstrated that motivational factors can influence de test score
• Some studies (Iscoe & Pierce-Jones and 1964; Wallach & Kogan, 1965, cited by Kim, 2006) that the measures are influenced when the test is administered as a “serious” activity, rather than as a fun activity. To avoid this problem Torrance suggest to perform warm-up activities that could increase motivation and reduce the “stress” of having to perform a test.
• It has been suggested by Torrance and Cropley (Kim, 2006) that a creativity assessment should be based on measures produced by several test, meaning that the TTCT test alone cannot be used to measure creativity.

Sources :

Almeida, L. S., Prieto, L. P., Ferrando, M., Oliveira, E., & Ferrándiz, C. (2008). Torrance Test of Creative Thinking: The question of its construct validity. Thinking skills and creativity, 3(1), 53-58.

Kaufman, J. C., & Baer, J. (2006). Intelligent testing with Torrance. Creativity Research Journal, 18(1), 99-102.

Kim, K. H. (2006). Can we trust creativity tests? A review of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT). Creativity research journal, 18(1), 3-14.

Sternberg, R. J. (1988). The triarchic mind: A new theory of human intelligence. Viking Pr.