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Reading Skills, Creativity, and Insight: Exploring the Connections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2014

Catalina V. Mourgues ,
David D. Preiss  and
Elena L. Grigorenko
Catalina V. Mourgues*
Affiliation:
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile)
David D. Preiss
Affiliation:
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile)
Elena L. Grigorenko
Affiliation:
Yale University (USA)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Catalina V. Mourgues. Escuela de Psicología. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Av. Vicuña Mackenna, 4860. Macul, Santiago (Chile). E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Studies of the relationship between creativity and specific reading disabilities have produced inconclusive results. We explored their relationship in a sample of 259 college students (age range: 17 to 38 years-old) from three Chilean universities. The students were tested on their verbal ability, creativity, and insight. A simple linear regression was performed on the complete sample, and on high- and low-achievement groups that were formed based on reading test scores. We observed a significant correlation in the total sample between outcomes on the verbal ability tasks, and on the creativity and insight tasks (range r =. 152 to r =. 356, ps <.001). Scores on the reading comprehension and phonological awareness tasks were the best predictors of performance on creativity and insight tasks (range β = .315 to β = .155, ps <.05). A comparison of the low- and high-scoring groups on verbal ability tasks yielded results to the same effect. These findings do not support the hypothesis that specific reading disability is associated with better performance on creative tasks. Instead, higher verbal ability was found to be associated with higher creativity and insight.

Keywords

creativityinsightverbal abilitycollege students
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 17 , 2014 , E58
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2014 

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