EFFECTS OF PRODUCTIVITY GOALS, CREATIVITY GOALS, AND PERSONAL DISCRETION ON INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY

A three-factor (3 × 3 × 2), between-subjects design was used to investigate effects of productivity goals (difficult, do your best, or no goals), creativity goals (difficult, do your best, or no goals), and personal discretion (high or low) on two dependent variables: creativity and productivity. High levels of creativity and productivity were obtained when either a do-your-best creativity goal and difficult productivity goal or a difficult creativity goal and difficult productivity goal were assigned, suggesting that two different types of goals can be assigned without reducing performance on either dimension. Creativity was lowest in three conditions: (a) difficult productivity goal and no creativity goal, (b) do-your-best productivity goal and no creativity goal, and (c) no creativity goal and low personal discretion. These results indicate that when individuals are given a productivity goal or low personal discretion and no creativity goal, creativity decreases. Implications are discussed.