A recent paper in the journal 'Medical hypotheses' suggested that creativity and intelligence are the most important personality factors for 'revolutionary' scientists. 

They claimed that a long, drawn out education system and the potentially unrewarding nature of research instead selects for traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness, which includes qualities like perseverance and willingness to please; which are unrelated to intelligence and creativity. 

As such, selecting for these traits reduces the average IQ and creativity levels of scientists who have the determination/discipline to make it through the system. Question Who's Online | Find Members | Private Messages
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169 hits 3.3 (4 votes) Share Favorite | Flag 15 days ago by Floor Demon

Do you think our academic system selects for less creative/intelligent researchers?
A recent paper in the journal 'Medical hypotheses' suggested that creativity and intelligence are the most important personality factors for 'revolutionary' scientists.

They claimed that a long, drawn out education system and the potentially unrewarding nature of research instead selects for traits like conscientiousness and agreeableness, which includes qualities like perseverance and willingness to please; which are unrelated to intelligence and creativity.

As such, selecting for these traits reduces the average IQ and creativity levels of scientists who have the determination/discipline to make it through the system.


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Friday 11/6/09 - 11:40:40 AM
It's not a matter of create, but they favour those with more conventional methods of conducting research. So the more intelligent/ creative find other avenues, unless they are also 'blessed' with perseverance and agreeableness and value hard work with little gain, at least at the beginning.
Research also attracts graduates who are not ready for the real world. However, IQ and efficiency have to be present at the start.
Friday 11/6/09 - 11:41:57 AM
The "creativity" which you speak of is spoiled due to the rigid formats that they have to adhere to. Thus, if creativity is the opposite of boringness, then research tends to suppress creativity considerably, as compared to art. This is also because of the view that things are to be supported from past research, so anything new needs a scientific support base or they won't be accepted.With regards to "revolutionary", the impact would be small, again, due to the rigidity of the system. This is different in the earlier times when systems were not so defined, allowing pioneers in certain specialties.
Friday 11/6/09 - 5:56:07 PM
Sounds like someone didn't get their research grant this year.
Saturday 11/7/09 - 5:17:26 PM
this is why I'm not going to be a scientist even though I love science
Saturday 11/7/09 - 5:20:34 PM
On Saturday 11/7/09 - 5:17:26 PM mysocks wrote:
this is why I'm not going to be a scientist even though I love science


what will you do then?
Saturday 11/7/09 - 5:29:04 PM
Oh no!! Science is awesome. Stick with it.

That guy is probably just throwing his toys out of the pram because he couldn't get a research grant, his idea was probably nuts. The line between genius and insanity is fine and often crossed- particularly in academia.

A good scientist is conscientious, they should be able to work as a team, they should be able to persevere and intellect is also important.

Creativity is also as valid as all these other traits, but if the hypothesis doesn't fit the evidence then you take it back to the drawing board and you start over. You don't get creative with the data.
Saturday 11/7/09 - 5:32:18 PM
On Saturday 11/7/09 - 5:29:04 PM imagination wrote:
You don't get creative with the data.


that's a great line!
Wednesday 11/11/09 - 11:32:51 PM
I don't think it's the research process itself so much as the grant process.
Thursday 11/12/09 - 3:26:49 PM
On Wednesday 11/11/09 - 11:32:51 PM Malletman wrote:
I don't think it's the research process itself so much as the grant process.


I'd second that. Many people I know get around this by writing grants for fairly safe/conventional research and then use the money/equipment to at least partially fund more interesting/risky ideas.



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