Advanced Understanding of Imagination as the Mediator between Five-Factor Model and Creativity

Abstract

This study examined the mediating role of capability-oriented imagination between personality traits and creativity, by combining two sub-studies. A total of 612 student participants were recruited from universities in Taiwan. Study 1 calibrated the factors of the three variables and validated three instruments of the variables, and the results were consistent with previous studies. The results also indicated that the relationships among the variables of the full five-factor personality traits, capability-oriented imagination, and two-feature creativity were valuable, which prompted further examination. Study 2 adopted structural equation modeling, which not only validated the mediating role of imagination between five-factor personality traits and two-feature creativity but also revealed that various personality traits can improve original or useful creativity through imagination as a mediator. The originality aspect of creativity can be jointly predicted by the variables of initiating and conceiving imagination, with influence (in order, high to low) from openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. The creativity aspects of usefulness can be jointly predicted by the variables of transforming and conceiving imagination, with influence (in order, high to low) from conscientiousness, openness, and agreeableness. The study also proposes directions for future research.

Keywords:

• Creativity capability
• five-factor model
• imaginative capability
• mediating effect

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Mr. Wei-Sheng Lin, for his assistance with the data analysis and providing suggestions for methodology. The author also would like to thank the guest editors as well as all anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 106-2511-S-320-002-MY2).

Notes on contributors

Yuling Hsu

Yuling Hsu is an associate professor at Institute of Education of Tzu Chi University. Her work focuses on learning and instructional science, school psychology and student guidance. She started the research on individuals imagination capability since 2009, and has developed the self-report scale of imagination capability for learners in different majors. She continued to use the structural equation modeling and experimental research methods to clarify the factors, paths and intensities that affect individual's imagination capability, to guide educational resources at key points and assist individuals in their ability to promote higher-order thinking.