No Difference in Creativity between the Arts and Sciences, Study Says

A new study has found that there is very little difference between the creativity that artists use to make art and the creativity that scientists use to solve problems. There has been a longstanding debate among researchers whether the use of creativity is a general skill, or if it varies across different disciplines. In the current study, the researchers wanted to determine if creativity used in the arts is different from creativity applied in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The researchers asked 2,277 German undergraduate students enrolled in art and STEM courses to answer a survey. The survey measured the students’ creative abilities, ways of coming up with ideas, and problem-solving skills. Results showed that there were only slight differences between the participants’ answers, indicating that the creative skills used in art and STEM fields are very similar. According to David Cropley, the study’s lead author, the findings confirmed that creativity is a general skill that is common among different subjects of study. He said that it involves knowledge, skills, and attitudes that can be applied to more than one situation. He explained that artists, mathematicians, and engineers all share the same tendencies to be flexible, open to new ideas, and inventive when it comes to problem-solving. Cropley said that the study is valuable to educators and institutions, especially in terms of evaluating students’ creative capabilities. He hopes that education systems will move toward a more holistic approach when it comes to teaching creativity.