Abstract

Measuring creativity for engineering is paramount; previous research has shown that creativity diminishes as students advance through college. This study intends to find possible predictors for creativity in these students. These predictors include GPA, Hobbies, and Extracurriculars while using the Test of Creativity Thinking – Drawing Production (TCT-DP) as a benchmark for creativity. Participants were Junior and Senior year engineering students in Spring 2021. All eligible study participants were provided a TCT-DP and survey to complete. Individual creative ability was assessed from the resulting TCT-DP using a 13 categorical scoring matrix by independently trained evaluators using the scoring guidelines. The accompanying survey was paired with the creativity scores to provide insight into the participants' leisure habits, Grade Point Average (GPA), and demographics. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the relationship between predictor variables and creativity. Results indicated that extracurricular activities and hobbies were predictors of creativity primarily through activities related to the Arts, although additional time spent on these activities does not significantly affect this relationship. GPA was also a predictor of creativity by increasing scores across GPA ranges. The results suggest that participation in any extracurricular or hobby category may be a leading predictor more than the time spent performing that activity. More opportunities for students engaged in extracurricular or hobbies, especially if tied into interdisciplinary categories such as the Arts, would, in theory, produce more workplace-valued creative thinking engineers.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2022

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Karwowski, Waldemar

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Industrial Engineering and Management Systems

Degree Program

Industrial Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0008984; DP0026317

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0026317

Language

English

Release Date

May 2022

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

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