Notes on Creative Potential and Its Measurement¹

The discussion raised by the Glăveanu target paper (Glăveanu, 2014) continues in the second issue of “Creativity. Theories – Research – Applications” (CTRA). In this editorial I focus on two elements shared by commentators whose articles are presented in this issue, namely: creative potential and its measurement. I start with the observation that potential is probably the most fuzzy and poorly defined construct in the creativity literature (and likely social science as a whole). As a result of different operationalizations of this category, its valid and reliable measurement is difficult – though not impossible – but, more importantly, several different theories of potential are being developed simultaneously. I focus mainly on critiques of the measurement of creative potential and show how recent developments in psychometrics make it more valid and reliable than critics tend to realize.