The Creativity Crisis (is not) as Plain as the Nose on Your Face: A Few Introductory Comments

Is there a crisis in creativity science? According to the feature article (Glăveanu, 2014 – in the first issue of this journal), there can be no doubt that there is. However, as the current issue shows, there is no agreement among creativity scholars that this is the case. This editorial does not aim at providing an additional critique of Glăveanu’s perspective. Instead, I rather re-iterate some previously raised arguments (Karwowski, 2012), and call for middle-range theorizing in creativity [email protected] of Special Education, Poland1218618

SEM studies of ore minerals in skarns from Garby Izerskie, Karkonosze-Izera Block, South-Western Poland

In "Stanisław" quarry, that is located on Garby Izerskie, ore minerals-bearing calc-silicate skarns were found in 2009. The sam-ples were studied using microscopical meth-od of reflected light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on SEM study, the predominant ore minerals in investi-gated samples are chalcopyrite, pyrrho-tite, bismuth telluride and native bismuth. Moreover, acanthite, native gold and native silver were also identified. Our studies are the first report of above mentioned miner-als from the Garby Izerskie area

Exploring creative mindsets: Variable and person-centered approaches

Previous studies on creative mindsets have demonstrated that people do not necessarily conceptualize creativity as either fixed (unchangeable) or malleable (able to be grown) but instead use both terms while describing creative behaviors and traits. Because people can see creative ability as both a fixed and malleable trait, this seemingly contradictory view may stem from the fact that people use information about different components and levels of creative expertise when making that judgment. Here, by integrating variable- and person-centered approaches to studying creative mindsets, we aimed to provide a more authoritative answer to this issue. A large sample (N = 3,876) of Polish adults completed the Creative Mindset Scale, with smaller subsamples also completing different measures of creative self-concept, creative ability, creative activity, and creative achievement. A series of confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses confirmed that the 2-factor model, with correlated yet relatively independent fixed and growth creative mindsets, fit the data better than did the general factor model, in which fixed and malleable mindsets are seen as being on a continuum. We found that although the better fit of the 2-factor model demonstrated that people indeed describe creativity in both fixed and malleable ways, the general factor orientation may shape their perception as well. A latent profile analysis revealed the existence of 4 classes of people: those holding high growth and low fixed mindsets and those holding low growth and high fixed mindsets but also those holding high growth and high fixed mindsets as well as those holding low fixed and malleable mindsets. The high growth−high fixed type was characterized by the highest creative self-concept (especially creative self-efficacy and creative personal identity), average activity and achievement, and relatively low creative ability. We discuss these findings in terms of creative mindsets theory and propose further research areas

Intellectual risk taking: A moderating link between creative confidence and creative behavior?

Having confidence in one’s creative ability seems necessary for creative behavior. The relationship, however, may not be as direct as creativity researchers have initially posited. Previous research on the relationship between creative confidence (CC) and creative behavior (CB) has yielded mixed findings. Moreover, emerging theoretical and empirical work suggests that the CC–CB relationship is moderated by other beliefs. In this exploratory study, we examined the relationship among intellectual risk taking (IRT), CC, and CB. Specifically, we tested 2 theoretical propositions. The first involved examining the posited relationship between creative confidence and creative behaviors. Consistent with our expectations, our preliminary results indicate positive, albeit somewhat modest correlations between creative confidence and creative achievements (r = .33), creative achievements in the arts (r = .17), creative achievements in science (r = .27), and participation in creative activities (r = .35). The second proposition involved examining whether IRT moderates the relationship between CC and CB. Our results indicate that IRT did serve as a moderator in the relationship between CC and CB. Specifically, our preliminary results indicate that willingness to take intellectual risks enhances the relationship between CC and CB. Moreover, our findings also indicate that at very low levels of IRT, there is no relationship between CC and CB. In sum, our results suggest that even if people have high levels of confidence in their creativity, they may also need to be willing to take the creative risks in order for creative confidence to develop into creative behavior. Theoretical and research implications of these findings are also discussed

Kwestionariusz Roli Zawodowej Nauczyciela – założenia teoretyczne i właściwości psychometryczne wstępnej wersji narzędzia

Teachers’s Professional Role Questionnaire: TheoreticalBackground and Psychometric Properties of the Initial Version of the Instrument This paper present theoretical background, design process and psychometric properties of the Teacher’s Professional Role Questionnaire (TPRQ) – a new instrument to measure perceived importance and fulfillment of the main spheres of teachers’ functioning. A study conducted on a large (N = 946) sample of Polish teachers, preceded by a pilot study (N = 121) lead to the construction of the final version of the TPRQ. Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated a good fit of the hierarchical model, that summarized the importance and fulfillment of teachers’ roles into three meta-factors – metaphors of the teacher as an inspirer, a tutor and a clerk. We present data showing the new instrument’s validity, reliability as well as discuss its strengths and limitations – especially these related to instrument’s susceptibility to social desirability – and propose further areas of studies on TPRQ

Creativity: The Show Must Go On

In this opening editorial to the new peer-reviewed journal entitled “Creativity: Theories - Research - Applications,” we present our vision, mission and the philosophy of this new journal in the field of creativity studies. As creativity researchers and editors, we start by identifying several gaps in the existing creativity literature and propose how a new journal could fill them. We conclude with an invitation to scholars worldwide to participate in the creation of this new, fascinating project.Maciej Karwowski: [email protected] Uszyńska-Jarmoc: [email protected] Karwowski, Department of Educational Sciences, Academy of Special Education, 40 Szczesliwicka St., 02-353 Warsaw, PolandJanina Uszyńska-Jarmoc, Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, University of Bialystok, 20 Świerkowa St., 15-328114

Who uses emoticons? Data from 86 702 Facebook users

Emoticons are graphical representations of emotions used in virtual communication. We explored patterns of emoticon use in a sample of 86 702 Facebook users (aged 16 to 60, 59% women).We analyzed the total number and type of emoticons posted to public Facebook feeds as a function of a user's gender, age and Big Five personality characteristics. In our sample, 90% of Facebook users employed emoticons. The most popular 15 emoticons represented 99.6% of all emoticons posted. Our results further showed that the frequency of emoticon usagewas predicted mainly by age and gender, explaining 16% of the variance, whereas user's personality scores explained b2%. These findings suggest that emoticon usage may assist in profiling user's demographic, but not necessarily psychological traits

Personality predictors of creative achievement and lawbreaking behavior

This article investigates how Big Five personality traits are related to creative achievements and lawbreaking behavior in a large sample (N = 1669) of Polish adults. Structural equation modelling with personality modelled as a bi-factor structure demonstrated a weak, yet significant link (r = .21) between latent factors of creative achievements and lawbreaking behavior. A general factor of personality was unrelated to creative achievement, but negatively linked to lawbreaking behavior. Lawbreaking behavior was also negatively predicted by conscientiousness and agreeableness, while only openness positively predicted creative achievement. A person-centered analysis illustrated three distinct personality profiles: resilient, undercontrolled, and overcontrolled that differed in both lawbreaking behavior and creative achievements