On the dependability and feasibility of layperson ratings of divergent thinking

A new system for subjective rating of responses to divergent thinking tasks was tested using raters recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk. The rationale for the study was to determine if such raters could provide reliable (aka generalizable) ratings from the perspective of generalizability theory. To promote reliability across the Alternative Uses and Consequence task prompts often used by researchers as measures of Divergent Thinking, two parallel scales were developed to facilitate feasibility and validity of ratings performed by laypeople. Generalizability and dependability studies were conducted separately for two scoring systems: the average-rating system and the snapshot system. Results showed that it is difficult to achieve adequate reliability using the snapshot system, while good reliability can be achieved on both task families using the average-rating system and a specific number of items and raters. Additionally, the construct validity of the average-rating system is generally good, with less validity for certain Consequences items. Recommendations for researchers wishing to adopt the new scales are discussed, along with broader issues of generalizability of subjective creativity ratings. © 2018 Hass, Rivera and Silvia

Creativity assessment in psychological research: (Re)setting the standards

This commentary discusses common relevant themes that have been highlighted across contributions in this special issue on \u27Creativity Assessment: Pitfalls, Solutions, and Standards.\u27 We first highlight the challenges of operationalizing creativity through the use of a range of measurement approaches that are simply not tapping into the same aspect of creativity. We then discuss pitfalls and challenges of the three most popular measurement methods employed in the field, namely divergent thinking tasks, product-based assessment using the consensual assessment techniques, and self-report methodology. Finally, we point to two imperative standards that emerged across contributions in this collection of articles, namely transparency (need to accurately define, operationalize, and report on the specific aspect[s] of creativity studied) and homogenization of creativity assessment (identification and consistent use of an optimal \u27standard\u27 measure for each major aspect of creativity). We conclude by providing directions on how the creativity research community and the field can meet these standards

The creative self and creative thinking: An exploration of predictive effects using Bayes factor analyses

The present research explored the relationship between the creative self and creative performance. Based on prior research purporting that perceptions of the self can predict behavior, the authors predicted that beliefs about the creative self would predict creative performance. Participants completed two scales on beliefs about their creativity (creative self-efficacy; fixed and growth mindsets about creativity), and then completed two types of creativity tasks: three divergent thinking tasks and one creative-problem-solving scenario. Model comparisons based on constellations of predictors were performed using Bayesian analyses (Bayes factors and Bayesian regression). Results show that creative self-efficacy predicted fluency in divergent thinking but did not relate to originality ratings of ideas generated during divergent thinking. Endorsing a fixed mindset about creativity was related to decreased performance in creative problem solving, with no mediation by creative self-efficacy. However, creative self-efficacy remained correlated with growth mindset. Implications for further research on the creative self are discussed

Application of a watershed model (BasinSim) and a tidal prism water quality model (TPWQM) to the Great Wicomico River, Virginia

The objective of this project is to develop a modeling package to assist in water quality management of small coastal basins (SCBs) of the Chesapeake Bay system. Efforts by the Commonwealth to address water quality and its effect on living resources in tidal, estuarine systems has focused primarily on the Chesapeake Bay and the major tributaries of the lower bay (James, York and Rappahannock Rivers), as evidenced by the extensive monitoring and modeling efforts directed to them. This has been at the expense of smaller coastal basins such as the Great Wicomico River and the numerous tidal creek systems of the Eastern Shore. In many instances there is insufficient information about water quality and living resources in SCBs to even identify system problems, much less to determine what, if any, management action to take. Despite the lack of directed efforts in the small coastal basins, these areas represent significant habitat for living resources that warrant protection from impaired water quality conditions. (more ....

Validation of the Factor Structure of the Health Professionals’ Attitudes Toward the Homeless Inventory (HPATHI)

Background - Considerable stigma exists toward persons experiencing homelessness (PEH)—a vulnerable population at greater risk for health disparities.1, 2 - Many healthcare students begin their programs without interacting with PEH and with preconceived notions influenced by societal stigma. - Interprofessional education programs, such as the Enhancing Services for People Experiencing Homelessness program below, have incorporated experiential learning into curricula to address student biases and develop understanding and compassion. Educating students to understand issues that PEH face can help mitigate healthcare disparities. - Evaluating the effectiveness of these interprofessional educational experiences requires valid assessment of the attitudes, interest, and confidence of students from various professions about working with PEH. - The Health Professional Attitudes Toward the Homeless Inventory (HPATHI) is frequently used for this purpose, including for ESHP, but has several limitations: Developed with a sample of medical students, overgeneralizing its validity for other health professions Standard-practice psychometric approaches were not used to support its validity. Final solution included several cross-loaded items.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/jcipeposters/1012/thumbnail.jp

Use or Consequences: Probing the Cognitive Difference Between Two Measures of Divergent Thinking

Recent studies have highlighted both similarities and differences between the cognitive processing that underpins memory retrieval and that which underpins creative thinking. To date, studies have focused more heavily on the Alternative Uses task, but fewer studies have investigated the processing underpinning other idea generation tasks. This study examines both Alternative Uses and Consequences idea generation with a methods pulled from cognitive psychology, and a novel method for evaluating the creativity of such responses. Participants were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk using a custom interface allowing for requisite experimental control. Results showed that both Alternative Uses and Consequences generation are well approximated by an exponential cumulative response time model, consistent with studies of memory retrieval. Participants were also slower to generate their first consequence compared with first responses to Alternative Uses, but inter-response time was negatively related to pairwise similarity on both tasks. Finally, the serial order effect is exhibited for both tasks, with Consequences earning more creative evaluations than Uses. The results have implications for burgeoning neuroscience research on creative thinking, and suggestions are made for future areas of inquiry. In addition, the experimental apparatus described provides an equitable way for researchers to obtain good quality cognitive data for divergent thinking tasks

Association Between Lack of Access to a Neighborhood Park and High Blood Pressure in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown a lower risk of high blood pressure (HBP) among people who live near parks; however, little information exists on how feeling safe and comfortable visiting the park affects blood pressure. We identified associations between neighborhood park access, comfort visiting a park, and HBP to understand how these factors may contribute to disparities in HBP prevalence. METHODS: The 2018 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey of 3,600 residents in the Philadelphia metropolitan area asked if respondents had ever been told they had HBP and whether they had a neighborhood park or outdoor space that they were comfortable visiting during the day. To assess the association between park access and HBP, we built multilevel logistic models to account for variation in HBP by zip code. We examined the effect modification of perceptions of park access (having a neighborhood park, not having a neighborhood park, or having a neighborhood park but not comfortable visiting it) and HBP by race, education, and poverty status. RESULTS: Both not having a neighborhood park and having a park but not feeling comfortable visiting it were associated with higher unadjusted odds of HBP, 70% and 90%, respectively, compared with having a neighborhood park. Adjusted odds ratios for the lack-of-park responses remained significant (no neighborhood park, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7; neighborhood park but not comfortable visiting, aOR = 1.4; 95% CI, 1.03-2.0). A significant gradient was observed for Black respondents compared with White respondents with odds of HBP increasing by perceptions of park access (aOR = 1.95 for people with a park; aOR = 2.69 for those with no park; aOR = 3.5 for people with a park that they are not comfortable visiting). CONCLUSION: Even accounting for other risk factors for HBP, not having a neighborhood park or not feeling comfortable visiting one may influence individual HBP. Neighborhood factors that deter park access may contribute to racial disparities in HBP

Biodiversity Gains? The Debate on Changes in Local- vs Global-Scale Species Richness

Editorial: Do changes in biodiversity at local scales reflect the declines seen at global scales? This debate dates back at least 15 years..