From no distinction to direction, the impact of motivation on creativity: The contribution of environmental resources and grit

Abstract

This study aims to explore the pivotal roles of environmental resources (ER) and grit in fostering creativity, while meticulously examining the diverse effects of motivation on creativity across various educational stages, ranging from primary school to university. A large random sample of 47,278 Chinese students was examined for ER, grit, motivation, and daily creative behavior using questionnaires. The findings revealed that ER and grit positively predicted creativity among students. ER, and grit among high school and university students predicted creativity through autonomy orientation, whereas those among upper primary schools were predicted through controlled orientation. Additionally, the creativity of lower primary schools is predicted through controlled-autonomy orientation. The current research reveals that the impact of autonomy and controlled orientation on creativity varies among students of different grades. These findings enrich current models of motivation on creativity and provide a reference for the application of external rewards in teaching and learning among different grade students.