Case Study in Creativity Research

The Significance of Case Study to Creativity Research

Because creativity is by definition typically associated with the unique characteristics or ability of an individual and because case study also emphasizes the concept of individual, case study lends itself particularly well to addressing the questions of creativity research, particularly questions that require a wealth of data about a single person or created artifact. Foremost among these questions is, “What is creativity”? This question breaks down into several others: To what extent is creativity an innate characteristic that cannot be trained? Or conversely, to what extent can or must creativity be trained? What are the stages of development that characterize creative behavior? Are there stages of creativity that apply equally to all domains in which creativity is manifested? Are there universal attributes of creativity that characterize all individuals within a culture or across cultures? How can creativity be fostered? What is the role of the gatekeepers who admit or reject a new work as worthy or not of the term creative?

Types of Case Study Research in Creativity

As the concept of individual is central to both creativity research and case study, research in creativity has benefited and can benefit from case study approaches. The cases examined can be creative persons, their products, or processes. The data may be acquired through interview, archival materials (e.g., diaries), analysis of creative works or performances, and observation of the process of developing the work. The case study approach is characterized by the acquisition and interpretation of a wealth of data about the individual case rather than the administration of personality or problem-solving tests to large numbers of individuals. The case study, however, can entail both qualitative and quantitative data.

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