Creativity of Undergraduate Science Students in Relation to their Problem Solving Abilities

Abstract

Humans are equipped with a creative force, but the extent to which they possess it differs from person to person. Creativity is the process by which a person makes something new (a product, solution, work of art, novel, invention, etc.) that has value (Aggarwal 2022). Problem solving is a mental process that comes at the end of a larger problem-solving process, which involves problem identification, sharpening, and obtaining a final goal. Problem solving involves methodical observation, classification, and interpretation. A problem is defined as any scenario in which there is an opportunity to improve things (Sharma 2006). There is a need to foster creativity in undergraduate science students, who will then contribute to the development of problem-solving skills with a scientific mindset. This study investigates the association between creativity and problem-solving ability among undergraduate science students. The study adopted a descriptive survey method involving 160 undergraduate science students selected through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using Percentage Analysis, Mean, Standard Deviation, Independent Samples t-test, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The study’s findings show that UG science students have an average level of creativity and problem-solving abilities. A considerable positive association exists between creativity and problem-solving abilities. Male and female UG Science students had similar levels of creativity and problem-solving abilities. The study’s findings may be useful for undergraduate science students looking to improve their problem-solving and creative talents. Future research should employ longitudinal and experimental research designs involving larger and more diverse samples to examine additional psychological and educational variables influencing creativity and problem-solving ability.