Gender differences in creative thinking

This study examines the relevance of sociodemographic factors on gender differences in creative thinking. A general population sample of adult women (N = 466) and men (N = 273), residents of the Canary Islands, were assessed with the Figural and Verbal Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT). We found statistically significant interaction between gender and educational levels on Figural Fluency, Figural Originality, Resistance to Premature Closure, Figural Creativity Index, and Verbal TTCT scores of Fluency, Originality, and Average Standard Score. The women with a university level education scored higher than those with secondary or primary educational levels on all the measures, but no differences were found among the men in relation to their educational level. Gender differences in creative thought were minimal and dependent upon educational level; men with primary or secondary levels were found to score higher than women with the same level of education. However, the differences were statistically significant only on the Figural Originality and Figural Creativity Indices. Women with a university level education scored higher than men at the same level, yet statistically significant differences were only found for Verbal Fluency.