Undergraduate self-perceptions of creativity and independence

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• Previous research explored self-perceptions of creativity and independence in graduate faculty and industry professionals.
• Understanding undergraduate self-perceptions is crucial for higher education and career development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how undergraduate students' self-perceptions of creativity and independence align with popular expectations associated with their chosen academic disciplines.
• To compare these self-perceptions across different schools within a major university.

Main Methods:

• Survey administered to 596 undergraduate students across 7 university schools.
• Utilized a 20-question instrument assessing self-perceptions of creativity and independence.
• Compared responses based on students' declared schools/majors.

Main Results:

• Students in architecture, engineering, liberal arts, and science reported significantly higher levels of independence, individualism, and creativity.
• Students in business and education, and to a lesser extent, agriculture, reported lower levels of these traits.
• Findings support the hypothesis that students perceive themselves according to popular expectations of their fields.

Conclusions:

• Academic disciplines appear to shape undergraduate self-perceptions of key traits like creativity and independence.
• These findings have implications for student guidance, curriculum development, and understanding the influence of academic environments on personal identity.