A Comparative Study of Handeness and Creativity

Abstract

Various studies have assessed different factors which lead to creativity in individuals. However, very few have examined the direct role of handedness in the development of creativity among people. This was done by examining the effect of handedness on creativity; whether handedness is one of the major factors that have its contribution in developing a creative individual. It was also proposed that there would be significant difference between males and females creativity scores. Total 152 individuals were selected for the sample from various universities of Karachi. The Test of Creativity by Khan (1999) was used to assess the participants’ creativity. Using purposive sampling, no difference was found between the creativity scores of left-handed and right handed participants (p = .862) on the Creativity Test. However, female subjects performed significantly higher on the Creativity Test than the male subjects in this study (p = .044). Nonetheless, it is concluded that left-handed individuals are equally creative as right handed people, whereas, females are more creative than males. The findings would help to diminish the stereotype associated with being left- handed as being more creative than right-handed people.