Relationship of Originality to Kirton's Scale for Innovators and Adaptors

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between originality and Kirton's scale for innovators and adaptors. Kirton's scale measures the way a person solves problems or style, while creativity has been described as level or the efficiency in solving problems. Kirton's 1976 theory states the two variables should not be related; however, careful reading of the manuals of both tests indicates innovators and creative individuals have similar characteristics. Past research has yielded mixed results. For 110 university students, given Sounds and Images and the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory, a significant negative correlation was obtained for adaptors but none for innovators or the entire sample. Perhaps innovation and creativity are related, but only for highly creative persons.