The effects of expected evaluation and goal orientation on creativity

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of expected evaluation and goal orientation on creative performance. In Study 1, the three-factor goal orientation latent profile of 1,333 Chinese college students was analyzed. In Study 2, the effects of expected evaluation and goal orientation latent profile on creativity were investigated for 399 subjects. As a result, Study 1 identified four latent profiles: ‘1-mastery-approach goal type’, ‘2-medium-low type’, ‘3-high achievement type’, and ‘4-medium-high type’. In Study 2, the main effects of expected evaluation (no evaluation, informational evaluation, and controlling evaluation) on fluency, flexibility, and originality were statistically significant, and the main effect of goal orientation latent profile on originality was significant. The interaction effect between expected evaluation and goal orientation latent profile was significant only on originality. That is, ‘3-High Achievement Orientation’ showed the highest originality in the informational evaluation condition, while ‘1-Mastery Approach Goal Type’ and ‘4-Medium-High Type’ showed the highest originality in both the informational evaluation and no-evaluation conditions. All three latent groups showed the lowest originality in the control condition. ‘2-Medium-Low Type’ did not interact with the expected evaluation type. The following is a discussion of the research results, their implications, and their limitations and suggestions.