Measuring state-like meta-cognitive process in creative activities: from structure exploration to scale development

Background/Objective : Creative activities involving divergent thinking are often complex, ill-defined, and require significant effort to plan, monitor, and control. Previous research has highlighted the pivotal role of metacognition in fostering creativity. However, the theoretical framework didn't contain all crucial elements for creative activities, and that lacks state-like approach to capture metacognitive processes during a specific task. Hence, it is crucial to center research efforts on comprehensive understanding the state-like metacognitive processes in creativity (MCPC). Methods : In Study 1, we utilized qualitative method to pinpoint MCPC, 12 highly college students (75% female; baseline M _age = 20 years, SD = 0.77) were selected from 208 college students to explore the MCPC through the adapted Alternative Use Task (AUT), think-aloud protocols, and semi-structured interviews. In study 2, quantitative methods were used to establish a scale for observing metacognitive performance during the process of creative thinking. To this end, we employed exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to develop and validate the scale's structure. Results : The study 1 revealed the MCPC included 6 primary nodes and 29 secondary nodes. A MCPC scale was developed in Study 2, revealing 8 primary factors and 29 items. The scale demonstrated ideal reliability and validity through reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and criterion analysis. Conclusions : This study revealed two previously undisclosed secondary factors associated with monitoring and controlling, and offered an effective tool to observe state-like metacognitive processes in creative activities.