Assessing the Universality of the Zero Originality Lists of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT)-Figural: An Examination With African American College Students

Originality is scored based on standard zero-originality lists (ZOLs) in the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT). The applicability of those ZOLs to diverse groups has not been examined. We examined the consistency of TTCT-Figural’s sample-based (SB) ZOLs and the published ZOLs based on a sample of predominantly African American college students (n = 464 and n = 493 for Forms A and B, respectively). Then, we scored 193 forms using SB-ZOLs and published ZOLs. Compared with the old ZOLs, the updated ZOLs yielded more consistent results with the SB-ZOLs when a 3% cutoff is used for Activity 3. However, the new ZOLs made more improvement in Form A than Form B and in Activity 2 than Activities 1 and 3. Further studies are needed to determine if the inconsistencies stem from cultural differences or the method of updating the ZOLs. The results are discussed in terms of the implications for gifted identification.