Thesis
Immigrants as Artists: How Immigrants to the United States Define Creativity and Describe Its Role in Their Lives
(2018)
Abstract
This study was designed to examine the connection between immigration and creativity. It was a mixed-method study to determine whether a convenient sample of 50 immigrants to southeastern Pennsylvania from 27 countries considered creativity to be a fixed or malleable trait, to find out how they personally defined creativity, and to understand how they perceived the role creativity played in their lives in both their original and adopted homelands.
The study employed two instruments: a self-assessment Nature of Creativity Scale that asked each participant to rate their perceptions of the nature of creativity using a 5-point scale and a semi-structured interview designed to gauge their definitions of creativity as well as their perceptions of creative events in their lives before and after immigration to the United States. Voluntary unpaid participants completed both instruments during scheduled one-on-one interview sessions with the researcher. All participants agreed to verbatim audio recording of their interviews.
Results of the Nature of Creativity survey indicate, as expected, that immigrants appear to subscribe to the belief creativity is a malleable trait. The average malleability score of 4.0 on a scale of 1-5 significantly exceeded the mid average score of 3; a single sample t test compared the participants’ mean score with the mean score of 3 (a neutral position on creativity as a fixed or malleable trait). The calculated value, t (49) = 15.39, p = .000 Cohen’s d = 2.12 (large effect size), suggests that participants on average considered creativity as malleable trait. To the extent possible, results based on an analysis of the interviews are reported in the immigrants’ own words. Qualitative analysis of participants’ responses to the open-ended questions concerning the nature of creativity and its impact on their lives indicated that those interviewed believe that creativity is an impetus for bringing about change, bringing something new and positive to their lives and to the world. Participants conceptualized creativity as a trait stimulated by cross-cultural encounters and useful in developing cooperation and understanding in multicultural settings. Participants reported creativity has played a role in overcoming obstacles and making it possible to make their journeys and adjust to their new homeland. Maslow’s needs hierarchy was used to understand how the respondents described how they were able to satisfy their needs for food, shelter, safety, finding acceptance within a new community, and a sense of self-worth while also looking for ways to improve their lives by learning new skills and helping others.
Keywords
- creativity,
- creative,
- immigrant,
- immigration,
- malleable,
- fixed,
- mindset
Disciplines
Publication Date
Fall November 13, 2018
Degree
Master of Arts in General Psychology
Field of study
Immigrant Creativity
Department
Psychology
Advisor
V. Krishna Kumar, PhD
Citation Information
William Pierson. "Immigrants as Artists: How Immigrants to the United States Define Creativity and Describe Its Role in Their Lives" (2018) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/william-pierson/1/