Development of the Japanese version of the inventory of creative activities and achievements

Abstract

Measurement of real-life creativity across various countries serves as the foundation for the cultural psychology of creativity. Although studies have suggested differences in creativity between Western and East Asian countries, the underlying factors remain insufficiently understood. This study focused on Japan, an East Asian country, that was perceived to have high creativity yet exhibited negative self-perceptions of creativity. We translated the Inventory of Creative Activities and Achievements (ICAA), a comprehensive measure of real-life creativity from activities and achievements. Data were collected from various participants, who included creative activity experts and non-experts and spanned from university students to general adults (pro-c: n = 489 and little-c: n = 1485). Validity and reliability of the Japanese version of the ICAA was confirmed. However, the Japanese version revealed that Japanese individuals' mean score of creative activities and achievements, even among professionals, was only approximately half of that reported among Western or Chinese university students. Reasons for lower creativity and achievements among the Japanese population have been discussed.