Mark Batey

A tale of two sites: Twitter vs. Facebook and the personality predictors of social media usage

Social networking sites (SNS) are quickly becoming one of the most popular tools for social interaction and information exchange. Previous research has shown a relationship between users personality and SNS use. Using a general population sample (N=300), this study furthers such investigations by examining the personality correlates (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness-to-Experience, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Sociability and Need-for-Cognition) of social and informational use of the two largest SNS: Facebook and Twitter. Age and Gender were also examined. Results showed that personality was related to online socialising and information seeking/exchange, though not as influential as some previous research has suggested. In addition, a preference for Facebook or Twitter was associated with differences in personality. The results reveal differential relationships between personality and Facebook and Twitter usage.

Creativity, Intelligence, and Personality: A Critical Review of the Scattered Literature

The authors examined the relations among intelligence, personality, and creativity. They consider the concept and definition of creativity in conjunction with the qualifications that researchers in the field have suggested. The present authors briefly refer to historiometric studies but focus on psychometric intelligence and its relations to tests of divergent thinking (DT) and ratings of creativity. The authors consider the relation between personality and creativity in the context of Eysenckian 3-factor and 5-factor models of personality and with reference to DT tests and ratings of creativity. The authors also present recommendations for the future study of creativity.

The Measurement of Creativity: From Definitional Consensus to the Introduction of a New Heuristic Framework

The scientific study of creativity has proven a difficult undertaking. Researchers have employed a diversity of definitions and measurement methods. As a result, creativity research is underrepresented in the literature and the findings of different studies often prove difficult to draw into a coherent body of understanding. A heuristic framework to explicate the different methods by which creativity may be studied forms the basis of this article. Drawing upon existing conceptions of the creativity construct and previous efforts to provide structure to creativity research, the new taxonomic framework examines creativity from 3 primary perspectives in the form of a 3-dimensional matrix. The implications of the taxonomic framework for creativity research are examined. The new taxonomic framework contributes to the understanding of creativity research through the introduction of a comprehensive heuristic to guide future research and the interpretation of previous studies.

Individual differences in ideational behavior: Can the big five and psychometric intelligence predict creativity scores?

This study explored the extent to which ideational behavior (IB; Runco, Plucker, & Lim, 2000–2001), an indicator of creativity, is related to established individual differences in personality traits (Five Factor Model or FFM; Costa & McCrae, 1992), fluid (gf) and intelligence (IQ). A total of 158 (112 female) college students from British and American universities took part in this study. Bivariate correlations showed that IB was significantly associated with Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness (negatively), and gf. Hierarchical regression analysis showed personality to be a better predictor of IB than was intelligence. Cognitive ability measures only accounted for 4% of the variance in IB, whereas the Big Five superfactors explained an additional 22% of the variance (with gender explaining a further 3%). Furthermore, selected personality facets of Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness, explained the largest amount of variance in IB, namely 35%. Results are discussed with regard to the theoretical implications of the taxonomic place of IB in the wider realm of individual differences constructs.

Mental health literacy among university students

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the mental health literacy of students. This study is part of the growing interest in mental health literacy among young people., – Over 400 university students indicated their knowledge of over 90 psychiatric illnesses labels derived from DSM:IV. They rated disorders on six questions concerning whether they had heard of the disorder; knew anybody with it; could define or describe it; knew what causes it; whether those with it can be cured; and whether it is common., – On average, participants had heard of just over one‐third of the various illnesses. Those who rated the conditions as more common deemed them to have more known causes and to be more curable. Emotionally intelligent, open‐to‐experience females who had studied relevant academic subjects claimed to be better informed. The participants age and personality, as well as whether they had studied clinical psychology, related to their awareness., – The paper favours recognition of mental disorders over an attempt to understand how well young people understand mental illness., – No study has attempted this methodology in the study of mental health literacy.

Divergent Thinking and Interview Ratings

This study examined divergent thinking (DT) test scores of applicants taking part in a selection procedure for an undergraduate psychology degree (N = 370). Interviewers made six specific (creative intelligence, motivation, work habits, emotional stability, sociability, and social responsibility) and one overall recommendation rating on each candidate. Results show that trained interviewers could identify which applicants would receive greater scores for originality for DT test scores. The implications for the use of DT tests in selection are considered.

Individual Difference correlates of self-perceptions of creativity

Abstract The current chapter reports a systematic review of the relationship between self-perceptions of creativity and the individual difference traits of cognitive ability and personality. To structure our review, we separate out self-perceptions of creative traits, creative processes, and creative products. Our findings reveal that cognitive ability measures rarely relate to creative self-perceptions, but there are consistent positive associations with Openness to Experience and Extraversion. The relationships with Neuroticism, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness are more nuanced and vary relative to the type of self-perception (trait, process, product), the domain of the self-perception (e.g., arts vs. science), or culture. We explore some of the likely theoretical rationales for the findings and identify areas in need of further research. Lastly, we present a series of hypothetical models outlining nuanced relations between self-perceptions and individual differences and we present an exploratory but explanatory model that situates individual differences, self-perceptions of creativity, and actual creative achievement.

Demographic and Individual Correlates of Self-Rated Competency

This study was designed to explore sex, age, and personality differences in the way working people rated their own work competencies. A total of 723 working adults (mainly from Europe and the Middle East) completed a questionnaire which measured respondents self-assessed work competencies, self-rated intelligence, creativity, humor and ability to learn, core self-evaluations, and Big Five personality traits. Males rated themselves significantly higher than females on four competencies (Leading and Deciding; Analyzing and Interpreting, Creating and Conceptualizing; and Enterprising and Performing). Factor analysis revealed one overall factor. Regressing the total competency rating onto demography (age and sex), core self-evaluations, and the Big Five showed a clear interpretable pattern. Older, stable, open, conscientious, extraverts tended to rate themselves highest on overall competency. Extraverted males rated their creativity and sense of humor highest. Core self-evaluations added little incremental validity over the Big Five. Personal ratings of competence are a function of sex and personality which may systematically relate to actual competency behaviors. That is individual differences predict both self-ratings and actual behavior which are related. Using personal ratings of work behavior in appraisal procedures may be contaminated by humility and hubris effects associated with sex and personality. The first to explore self-ratings of the “Great Eight” competencies and to examine how individual differences influence self-perceptions of leadership competencies.