Creativity (Scientific, Artistic, General) and Risk Tolerance - Among Engineering and Music Students

The purpose of this study was to examine similarities and differences in general, artistic and scientific creativity among engineering and music college students. These findings were compared with published normative data for general, artistic and scientific creativity. Differences and similarities were explored in relation to specializations in majors. Demographic characteristics (gender, ethnicity and age) were investigated in regard to the different levels of general, artistic and scientific creativity. Results indicated that musicians scored higher in general and artistic creativity while there were no significant differences in scientific creativity for musicians and engineers. Participants scored higher than the normative data in general, artistic and scientific creativity. Overall, no specialization with each major significantly tended to favor general, artistic or scientific creativity. There were no significant differences in general, scientific or artistic creativity between genders or age stratification. Caucasians scored significantly higher in general and scientific creativity in both engineering and music groups however, there were less minority participants.