Measuring Creativity Across Cultures: Epistemological and Methodological Considerations

This article offers some epistemological and methodological considerations on the topic of measuring creativity across cultures. It starts from reflecting on the key terms-creativity, culture, and measurement-and continues by proposing and illustrating three different types of "logic" that can underpin the cultural study of creativity. The logic of comparison focuses on standardization and comparability and is specific for most cross-cultural investigations. The logic of exploration highlights differences in creativity assessment between people and groups and focuses on their origins and dynamic, something specific for cultural or sociocultural research. Last but not least, the logic of understanding guides those investigations that operate with local and bottom-up rather than universal, top-down definitions and categories, inspired by what is known as indigenous psychology. By reflecting on the strengths and limitations of each approach, the article ends with some theoretical and practical guidelines for those researchers interested in the study of creativity, culture and their complex, multifaceted relationship.