Books by David Cropley
The assessment of creativity occupies a key position in creativity research. Plucker, Makel, and ... more The assessment of creativity occupies a key position in creativity research. Plucker, Makel, and Qian (2019) set out many of the important issues, ranging across all four of Rhodes's Ps: person, process, press and product (Rhodes, 1961). Regardless of which aspect of creativity is measured, from divergent cognition, through attitudes and behaviors, and including the product or outcome of creativity itself, two limitations continue to challenge scholars: subjectivity and effort. Beaty and Johnson (2021) explained these as follows. Subjectivity takes the form of limitations in inter rater agreement (p. 757). If raters can't agree on what is creative, this calls the assessments into question. Effort represents the fact that many creativity assessments require considerable investments of time, effort, and money. Together, these limitations tend to drive researchers towards methods of assessment that weaken both reliability and validity (Reiter-Palmon, Forthmann, & Barbot, 2019). Nevertheless, for assessments that rely primarily on subjective ratings, the Consensual Assessment Technique (CAT: Amabile, 1982) has typically demonstrated generally good inter-rater reliability-often exceeding .80 (Baer & Kaufman, 2019)-however, this is usually premised on the availability of appropriate experts. Assessments that use objective criteria (e.g., the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking; Torrance, 1999) frequently demonstrate impressively high inter rater agreement (e.g., in excess of .90; Cropley, 2000). Thus, the underlying issue is not necessarily subjectivity on its own, but the high cost of achieving acceptable levels of inter-rater agreement. Beaty and Johnson (2021) explain that a reaction to these limitations-the high cost of achieving good inter-rater agreement on creativity assessments-is the recent growth of computational approaches to creativity assessment. Particularly popular among such approaches is the use of Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA: e.g., Landauer, Foltz, & Laham, 1998), in effect, automating the assessment of the fluency and originality found in traditional tests of divergent thinking. Beaty and Johnson (2021) give a comprehensive overview of the application of semantic
This book explores the history of modern human creativity/innovation, highlighting examples of so... more This book explores the history of modern human creativity/innovation, highlighting examples of solutions to basic human needs that have been developed over time. The title-Femina Problematis Solvendis-is a play on the scientific classifications of humans (Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens), but with special focus on inventions pioneered by women ("femina") and is intended to suggest that a defining characteristic of modern humans is our fundamental ability to solve problems (i.e., problem-solving woman = Femina problematis solvendis), Written by David H. Cropley, an internationally recognised expert on creativity and innovation, it also builds on his previous book "Homo Problematis Solvendis-Problem-solving Man", published in 2019. The book explores innovations over ten distinct "ages" of human history, beginning with "prehistory", and moving up to the present "information age". Each era is covered by a dedicated chapter that describes three key innovations that were either definitely invented by a woman or can be plausibly attributed to a female inventor. The book's focus on female inventors also serves to highlight some of the ways women have been treated in societies over time. David Cropley is an internationally recognised expert on creativity and innovation. His teaching interests focus on systems engineering and related concepts, and his research examines a range of aspects of creativity and innovation, both in the field of engineering, and more broadly, in education and organisations.
Cover image and ToC from forthcoming book: Homo problematis solvendis - Problem solving Man: A hi... more Cover image and ToC from forthcoming book: Homo problematis solvendis - Problem solving Man: A history of human creativity, Springer Nature. Publication Feb 2019.
Cover image of forthcoming German version of "Creativity and Crime: A Psychological Analysis".
Book Chapters by David Cropley
Oxford Handbook of Creativity and Education, 2025
As digitalization impacts more and more on societies, fundamental changes to the nature of work a... more As digitalization impacts more and more on societies, fundamental changes to the nature of work are unfolding. Artificial Intelligence and Robots, for example, are taking over many jobs previously performed by humans. It is now widely accepted that future human jobs will focus increasingly on skills and competencies-creativity, for example-that cannot be (easily) automated. Indeed, an increasing number of these jobs will be found, broadly speaking, in the domain of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). This has obvious implications for engineering education. Creativity has always been a core of this problem-solving profession, however the demands of digitalization place new pressures on engineering education. This chapter will explore how creativity has been tackled in engineering education in the past and will examine the impact of digitalization on creativity as a component of engineering education in the future.
Creations: The Nature of Creative Products in the 21st Century., 2025
In the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI), technologies such as Generativ... more In the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI), technologies such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)-a particular form of machine learning-have become central to the intersection of human and artificial creativity. The intersection, in particular, of Generative AI (typified by ChatGPT) and humans is reshaping traditional practices and introducing novel forms of artistic expression. Indeed, some argue that Generative AI is replacing humans altogether. At the very least, these tools assist artists, musicians, and writers by generating complex and, it is argued, creative outputs from textual descriptions, images, or sounds, enabling the generation of visual art, music, and literary works that challenge our understanding of creativity traditionally attributed solely to humans. This fusion of AI with creativity not only expands the boundaries of art and design but also raises profound questions about originality, authorship, and the role of human creativity in an increasingly automated and digitalised world. For instance, the ability of AI to mimic human creativity has sparked concerns about the diminishing value of unique human contributions and the potential devaluation of truly original works. As the distinction between human and machine-created art blurs, issues of copyright and intellectual property become complex, potentially leading to reduced incentives for human artists. Foundational concepts such as machine learning-a branch of AI that enables systems to automatically learn patterns and make predictions from large datasets-neural networks, and generative algorithms play transformative roles in creative industries. These technologies, while influential, typically rely on vast amounts of data, leading to potential biases and a limitation in AI's ability to genuinely innovate or appreciate creativity, as it lacks the intrinsic human experiences and emotions that inspire art. Despite these challenges, AI holds transformative potential for enhancing creative processes. In visual arts, AI can generate intricate designs and textures; in music, it can compose complex pieces or suggest harmonizations; in writing, it assists in brainstorming ideas and refining language. These capabilities have the potential to democratize creative expression, making sophisticated tools accessible to both amateurs and professionals, thus revolutionizing how creative products are conceived and delivered. However, the integration of AI in creative fields also raises concerns about authenticity and the potential devaluation of human creativity. Critics argue that AI-driven creations lack the emotional depth and personal touch that characterize transformative art. There is a fear that AI might homogenize creativity (e.g., Doshi & Hauser, 2024), as algorithms tend to generate work based on existing data, potentially stifling true innovation and diversity in artistic expression. Furthermore, the ease of creating with AI tools could lead to an oversaturation of content, making it harder for human artists to stand out.
Handbook of Creativity Assessment, 2024
This chapter explores the assessment of product creativity, a less emphasized aspect in creativit... more This chapter explores the assessment of product creativity, a less emphasized aspect in creativity research typically dominated by psychological perspectives. It aims to underline the significance of evaluating creative products, particularly in fields like education and design. The chapter sets out four objectives: to review existing methods of product creativity assessment, to investigate influencing domains, to critique current assessment strategies, and to identify emerging trends in this arena. Central to the chapter's discourse are the dual criteria of novelty and effectiveness, foundational in defining product creativity. Various assessment tools, such as the Creative Product Inventory (CPI), the Consensual Assessment Technique (CAT), the Creative Product Analysis Matrix (CPAM), and the Creative Solution Diagnosis Scale (CSDS), are discussed in terms of their development, criteria, and applications. The chapter further examines the importance of product creativity assessment in diverse domains like engineering, education, and consumer products, highlighting the necessity for reliable, valid, and accessible measures. It concludes with a look towards the future, suggesting that computational methods and AI could play a significant role in enhancing product creativity assessment. The chapter closes by arguing for the development of robust, universally applicable instruments, reflecting the evolving nature of creativity in the contemporary world.
Transformational Creativity: Learning for a better future, 2024
International Handbook of Creative Cognition, 2023
Creativity, Innovation and Change Across Cultures, 2023
Engineering innovation concerns the development of both incrementally and radically new solutions... more Engineering innovation concerns the development of both incrementally and radically new solutions to new problems arising from change. It is underpinned by an individual capacity for creativity. Over many hundreds of years, as our ability to respond to change with technological innovation has grown, so has the importance of the different dimensions of creativity, from a personal disposition to openness, to a capacity for deliberate creative ideation. As we move into the era of digital transformation, with new technologies increasingly able to replace humans in many tasks, it is soft skills-creativity in particular-that are growing in importance for engineering innovation. This chapter explores the driver of [engineering] innovation-change-and how this has increasingly redirected the work of engineers to problem solving. In parallel with this shift is the renewed emphasis on what skills and abilities are required to be a successful engineering innovator. There is now a growing recognition that engineers must be, first and foremost, equipped with a Capability Focus (CF) driven by creativity and other soft skills, complimented by traditional Technology Fluency (TF). This may be almost a reversal of the traditional focus on engineering development and is necessary to keep pace with the changes brought by digital transformation.
Handbook of Organisational Creativity: Volume 2: Leadership, Interventions and Macro Level Issues, 2023
Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) are impacting an increasingly broad range of aspects of life, bring... more Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) are impacting an increasingly broad range of aspects of life, bringing widespread and rapid change. One consequence of this is that engineering work is becoming open-ended, requiring a new kind of collaboration between engineers and technology. The present chapter argues that this particular instance of the future of work will
Unpacking Creativity: Culture, Innovation, and Motivation in Global Contexts, 2023
The field of creativity research, in its modern sense, has existed for some 70 years. Initially d... more The field of creativity research, in its modern sense, has existed for some 70 years. Initially driven by questions anchored in education, creativity research has branched out over the last 70 years to touch on many areas of human activity. However, it can be argued that the discipline has, in those 70 years, failed to make a deep and lasting impact in areas such as education. Despite strong interest in creativity, many countries still struggle with the issue of how to develop and assess creativity across the range of disciplines. A key cause of this gap between research and practical application, especially in education, but also in business, may be a problem of measurement. In particular, the issue is a matter of the fitness-forpurpose of creativity measurement. This can be understood in terms of five key factors: (a) domainspecificity; (b) consistency and trustworthiness; (c) classroom integration; (d) speed of results, and (e) cost.
Creativity and Morality, 2022
Creativity is regarded typically as a universal, beneficial force, driving positive outcomes acro... more Creativity is regarded typically as a universal, beneficial force, driving positive outcomes across a range of areas of human activity, including technology. Despite this, however, there is a thread of research that acknowledges a dark side to creativity. For example, technology, in its broadest sense, has given the world life-saving vaccines. However, that same technology has also been misused to create biological weapons. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the role that individual morals, in particular, as well as societal/organizational ethics, play in shaping (and constraining) creativity the world of technological problem solving and design (i.e., technological creativity). How is it possible to balance the need for freedom that creative design requires, with the inherent constraints imposed by ethics?
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Books by David Cropley
Book Chapters by David Cropley