Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the Test of Formal Reasoning (ATFR) and the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT). Additional issues explored were the percentage of the sample group operating at formal operational levels and whether there were significant differences between scores on the two tests that were related to differences in gender. The sample consisted of 60 college students (37 women and 23 men) ranging in age from 18 to 20. Both the ATFR and the TTCT Verbal were administered to each subject. Scores for both tests were recorded for each subject as were age and gender.
Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated to determine whether a relationship existed between the ATFR Total scores and the TTCT Verbal Total scores. A series of t tests were computed to determine significant differences in performance on the two tests by men and women. Subjects were categorized by the five cognitive levels assessed by the ATFR and the percentage of students operating at each of the five levels was calculated.
The ATFR total scores did not correlate with the TTCT Verbal Total scores. In this sample 48.3% of the participants were found to be operating at the formal operational level of cognitive ability, with 20.0% operating at the transitional level of cognition between the formal and concrete levels, and the remaining 31.7% were assessed to be at the concrete level of cognitive ability. The number of college students functioning at a concrete level continues to serve as a reminder that these individuals need information presented to them in a concrete fashion to facilitate learning.
Further research is indicated to define whether a relationship exists between creativity and formal operational reasoning. These relationships may occur in areas that are more specific, not as the general creativity and formal operational reasoning constructs used in this study. In addition, it is suggested creativity and formal reasoning may merely be facets on a larger construct and should possibly studied as such. The limitations in generalizability, due to ample size and financial constraints, may warrant additional research to substantiate the findings of this study.
