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An investigation into the relationship between divergent thinking and measures of competence

An investigation into the relationship between divergent thinking and measures of competence
An investigation into the relationship between divergent thinking and measures of competence
As a means of operationalising the divergent thinking construct a test developed by Fletcher and Dulewicz, the Productive Thinking Test (PTT), was used. This test employs a methodology similar to that reported by Guildford (1959) in that it requires respondents to record a number of responses (relating to implications) to two situations. The test is subjectively scored using two independent assessors and produces scales for ideational flow (number of ideas) and ideational flexibility (range of distinctly different ideas). It was administered to a sample of 120 managers drawn from three organisations. Their scores were correlated with data on their Critical Thinking Ability (Watson Glaser), their 16PF personality factors, their Belbin Team Roles and their Personal Competencies, based on 12 Supra-Competencies (Dulewicz, 1994).
In terms of the main debate around the relationship between convergent and divergent thinking, this study does indicate that they are independent constructs. More specifically, there appears evidence that the PTT operationalises, to an extent, the construct of divergent thinking. The study does however raise a number of further questions concerning the relationship between PTT and work/competence performance. This may be due to the inherent difficulty of examining divergent thinking and creativity.
HWP 9709
Henley Management College
Higgs, M.J.
bd61667f-4b7c-4caf-9d79-aee907c03ae3
Dulewicz, S.V.
39d5a020-33e4-4399-baf3-d48bea8ef3e9
Higgs, M.J.
bd61667f-4b7c-4caf-9d79-aee907c03ae3
Dulewicz, S.V.
39d5a020-33e4-4399-baf3-d48bea8ef3e9

Higgs, M.J. and Dulewicz, S.V. (1997) An investigation into the relationship between divergent thinking and measures of competence (Henley Working Paper Series, HWP 9709) Henley, UK. Henley Management College

Record type: Monograph (Working Paper)

Abstract

As a means of operationalising the divergent thinking construct a test developed by Fletcher and Dulewicz, the Productive Thinking Test (PTT), was used. This test employs a methodology similar to that reported by Guildford (1959) in that it requires respondents to record a number of responses (relating to implications) to two situations. The test is subjectively scored using two independent assessors and produces scales for ideational flow (number of ideas) and ideational flexibility (range of distinctly different ideas). It was administered to a sample of 120 managers drawn from three organisations. Their scores were correlated with data on their Critical Thinking Ability (Watson Glaser), their 16PF personality factors, their Belbin Team Roles and their Personal Competencies, based on 12 Supra-Competencies (Dulewicz, 1994).
In terms of the main debate around the relationship between convergent and divergent thinking, this study does indicate that they are independent constructs. More specifically, there appears evidence that the PTT operationalises, to an extent, the construct of divergent thinking. The study does however raise a number of further questions concerning the relationship between PTT and work/competence performance. This may be due to the inherent difficulty of examining divergent thinking and creativity.

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Published date: 1997

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 51520
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/51520
PURE UUID: 5e5017bc-c10f-4988-84dc-81663c3dec20
ORCID for M.J. Higgs: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9032-0416

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Date deposited: 21 Aug 2008
Last modified: 22 Oct 2022 01:40

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Contributors

Author: M.J. Higgs ORCID iD
Author: S.V. Dulewicz

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