ABSTRACT
People talk about creativity; they care about creativity. But what is creativity? Creativity is the ability to produce work that is both novel (i.e., original, unexpected) and appropriate (i.e., useful, meets task constraints) (Lubart, 1994; Ochse, 1990; Sternberg, 1988a; Sternberg & Lubart 1991, 1995). Creativity is a topic of wide scope that is important at both the individual and societal levels for a wide range of task domains. At an individual level, creativity is relevant, for example, when solving problems on the job and in daily life. At a societal level, creativity can lead to new scientific findings, new movements in art, new inventions, and new social programs. The economic importance of creativity is clear because new products or sendees create jobs. Furthermore, individuals, organizations, and societies must adapt existing resources to changing task demands to remain competitive.
