Self-Assessments of Creativity: Not Ideal, but Better Than You Think

Creativity self-assessments (CSAs) are frequently used in empirical research. However, they are often chosen for the sake of expediency. If used as outcome variables, there are legitimate concerns with their accuracy or validity. However, CSAs are most valuable when serving other purposes. In this review, I establish a categorization of CSAs based on their primary focus: Activities, Evaluation, Process, and Beliefs. I give a brief description and some examples of each type. Finally, I highlight specific instances of how CSAs can offer information and insights beyond performance-based measures.