http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/10896796

Creative thinking abilities and peer conformity in fifth-grade children

The peer-conforming behavior of high creative fifth-grade pupils groups deviated least with neutrals. Information scores showed controlled, small-group situation, in relationship to the nature of the task presented, the sociometric composition of the group, and any interaction of these variables. Subjects of the study were fifth-grade pupils in a large, suburban, public school district. They were given tests of creative thinking and intelligence. They were also given a sociometric nomination form. On the basis of their scores on the creativity tests, two groups of target subjects were identified. These subjects belonged to the top and bottom tenths on creative thinking. Within each level of creative thinking, experimental target subjects were randomly assigned to six combinations of the two variables which were--visual perception and information tasks, and friend, neutral, and non-friend group compositions. Experimental subjects reponded under a group pressure situation. Control target subjects responded to the same tasks without group pressure. The evidence indicated that the creativity level of the children, the sociometric composition of the test group, and the type of tasks were associated with fifth-graders' peer-conforming behaviors in a small group situation when these variables were looked at in their interaction. Pupils' score on perception tasks indicated that the creativity by group compostion effects were significant. High creative subjects deviated most when they were with non-friends, low creative subjects deviated most when they were with friends. Both groups deveiated least with neutrals. Information scores showed that high creative subjects deviated more than low creative subjects.

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