The Role of Multiple Intelligences and Creativity in Students’ Learning Style

Abstract

Developments and studies in the field of intelligence and creativity had been widely popularized by educators, practitioners and psychologists. Many studies had been conducted in examining the relationship between intelligence and creativity where contradicting findings were reported. The types or degree of intelligences varies among individuals and is not a fixed attribute which is similar with the nature of creativity. Both intelligence and creativity could be developed in varying degrees throughout the development of an individual. Therefore, it is the objective of this study to examine the relationship between creativity and intelligence. This study adopted a descriptive survey method where a set of questionnaire was used for the purpose of data collection in determining the relationship between the two variables. A total of 1040 randomly selected students which consisted of both male and female students were involved in the study. Research findings showed that overall, there was a significant and positive relationship between multiple intelligences and creativity (r=0.648). Research findings also showed that students from both gender possessed high intelligence in common domains, namely interpersonal (M=3.795, SD=0.61), followed by intrapersonal (M=3.656, SD=0.628) and musical (M=3.648, SD=0.863) as well as similar characteristics of creativity in two constructs (imagination and fantasy, and playfulness). To conclude, it is important to identify students’ intelligence profile as well as their creativity level according to domains. This is to aid students learning, providing them with the optimum learning environment through their preferred learning medium and help them to achieve their fullest potential in their respective talented areas.

Keywords: creativity, intelligence, learning style, multiple intelligences, multiple intelligence profile