Psychology of Engineering Creativity

In the whole process of techno scientific development engineers remain anonymous whereas the image of creative scientists Is widespread. In fact, if the scientists explore what is, the engineers create what has never been. But there is not sufficient research available about cognitive, motivational and person logical characteristics of creative engineers. Review of researches reveal that no such study has been attempted in India with the Indian engineering students as the sample. In this book, therefore a systematic investigation has been carried out to find out the Intellective and non-intellective factors which are associated with engineering creativity. A number of psychometric measures have been used for collecting data for this study, Purdue creativity test, a test for engineering creativity has been used for the first time in Indian settings.

The results of this study indicate that this innovative performance of creative engineers is a function of a complex interaction among such factors as personality structure, environmental influences and cognitive capacities. Unfortunately, the organization of our engineering schools, our curriculum offerings and our text books pay homage to the same God of conformity.

Today the art of engineering has been orphaned in the engineering and technical school-Engineering today is being challenged to prepare the students to solve the future unknown problems. To meet this challenge the book in its concluding chapter presents several methods and strategies through which the creative potential of engineering students can be fostered, developed and improved.

About the Author

The author having undergone a specially designed integrated course on engineering and technical education for four years under American and Indian experts got interested in this less known area of Engineering Education in 1967. Since then not only did he obtain two post-graduate degrees and a Ph.D. in engineering creativity but also studied the Vocational Education pattern in U.K. on a short-term fellowship in 1977. The versatility of the author is evident from the fact that he has taught at the school and college levels a variety of subjects with distinction like engineering, science and also literature. His keen interest in Education brought him to the national level where apart from doing extensive research and developmental work particularly in the emerging fields of work and vocational education, he has to his credit quite a number of articles and essays in various educational journals, books, and research reports particularly in the areas of work and technical- vocational education. He also won two awards at the national level competitions for his papers. Presently the author is getting a firsthand experience of the field as a Field Adviser, National Council of Educational Research and Training.