Scientific Creativity: A Short Overview

This article gives a condensed overview of important findings, methods, and theories related to scientific creativity. The topics discussed are grouped into the fourfold classification of the creative product, the creative person, the creative process, and the creative situation. Methods for evaluating the impact and creativeness of the creative product are citation analysis and rating inventories. The section on the creative person presents findings on the personality of creative scientists and research productivity across the life span. The section on the creative process reviews a stage theory of the creative act. Remarks on the creative situation include a summary of factors conducive to creative achievement and a discussion of the problem of multiple discoveries. In one of two additional sections, a comprehensive theory of scientific creativity--Simonton's chance configuration theory--is reviewed. The second additional section presents recommendations for further research on scientific creativity.