Creative Problem Solving Styles and Personality Types in Macau College Students: A Canonical Correlation Analysis

Abstract

Within the existing creativity-training programs, the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model may be the most effective tool for facilitating individual creativity. Among various factors that influence individuals’ creative performance, personality is widely considered one of most important factors. By far the most popular measure of personality types is the MBTI; unsurprisingly, the relationship between the MBTI and creativity has been extensively studied. However, relatively little research has touched on the relation between personality types and CPS. The purpose of this study was to use the KTS II as its instrument for measuring personality types, and FourSight as its instrument for measuring CPS styles. In our Macau business undergraduates, canonical correlation analysis shows that a link exists between personality types and CPS styles, and that this link is not gender-dependent. However, the variable thinking is the only valid and influential predictor of the canonical function. It is apparent that more empirical investigations are needed to confirm our findings.