| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Description | The Test of Creativity in Engineering (Harris, 1960) measures the ability to generate a variety of original ideas when faced with problem situations. Designed for use in the selection and placement of engineering personnel in industrial organizations, the test includes three types of items: Type I, Type II, and Type III. Creativity is measured through three scores: Flexibility (based on the variety of categories represented in responses to Type I and Type II items), Originality (based on the weighting of the categories in the Flexibility score), and Fluency (based on the number of responses to Type III items). Each item has a 2-minute time limit. The test was developed by administering experimental versions to samples of sophomore and junior engineering students, followed by senior mechanical engineering students, and ultimately comprising the final 40 items with the highest indices of discrimination. The test’s validity was confirmed through studies with engineers at an automotive accessories manufacturing company. Reliability was demonstrated through Spearman-Brown split-half correlations: Fluency score (.93), Flexibility score (.86), and Originality score (.80). |
| Author | Harris, D. |
| Purpose | The purpose of the Test of Creativity in Engineering is to assess the ability to generate original ideas when confronted with problem situations. This test is designed for use in the selection and placement of engineering personnel in industrial organizations. |
| Construct | Creativity |
| Instrument Type | Test |
| Reliability | Reliability was demonstrated through Spearman-Brown extensions of split-half correlations: Fluency score (.93), Flexibility score (.86), and Originality score (.80). |
| Validity | The Fluency, Flexibility, and Originality scores were correlated with other tests of mental ability and creativity, including the Wonderlic Personnel Test, the Mechanical Comprehension Test, and the AC Test of Creative Ability. Product-moment correlations were computed between the creativity scores for a sample of 64 engineers, revealing strong relationships: Fluency vs. Flexibility (.56), Fluency vs. Originality (.49), and Flexibility vs. Originality (.95). |
| Test Year | 1960 |
| Test Format | There are two forms of the test, each containing 40 items. Items fall into three categories: Type I, Type II, and Type III. Each item appears on a separate page with a 2-minute time limit. The test produces three creativity scores: Flexibility, Originality, and Fluency. |
| Number of Items | 40 items |
| Test Methodology | The test includes assessments of test validity, including both construct validity and correlations with other creativity and mental ability tests. |
| Population Group | Engineering students (sophomore, junior, and senior levels) |
| Age Group | Adulthood (18 years & older), Young Adulthood (18-29 years) |
| Location | United States |
| Keywords | Personality Measures, Test Development, Test of Creativity in Engineering, Psychometric Properties, Creativity, Personnel Selection & Placement |
| Classification | 7000 Organizational, Occupational, and Career Development |
| Source Reference | Harris, D. (1960). The development and validation of a test of creativity in engineering. Journal of Applied Psychology, 44(4), 254–257. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0047444 |
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2026). Test of Creativity in Engineering. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/test-of-creativity-in-engineering/
Mohammed looti. "Test of Creativity in Engineering." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 4 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/test-of-creativity-in-engineering/.
Mohammed looti. "Test of Creativity in Engineering." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/test-of-creativity-in-engineering/.
Mohammed looti (2026) 'Test of Creativity in Engineering', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/test-of-creativity-in-engineering/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Test of Creativity in Engineering," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
Mohammed looti. Test of Creativity in Engineering. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.