The current study investigated the nature and extent of a potential link between creative attitudes and locus of control in fifth-grade children. The rationale drew upon humanistic, social learning, and choice theory. Although the relationship between creativity and locus of control in adults has been investigated in the past, such studies in children are rare, especially those that examine creative attitudes.

Quantitative and qualitative methods were utilized in two phases. In Phase One, 100 boys and girls from one public and three private schools completed two existing measures of creativity, the Creativity Attitude Survey, and Group Inventory for Finding Talent, plus one measure created by the current author, the Children's Openness to Experience Scale. Two measures of locus of control were also utilized: Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale for Children, and the Multidimensional Measure of Children's Perceptions of Control. Phase Two involved in-depth qualitative interviews of 8 parents on their perceptions of their own children's attitudes and behaviors in relation to creativity and locus of control. For quantitative analysis, correlation coefficients, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple-regression statistics were used. Qualitative interview transcripts underwent thematic analysis to determine nature, conditions, and relationship between creative traits and locus of control.

Results from quantitative analysis showed moderately high correlations between creative attitudes and internal locus of control as measured by two instruments on creativity (Group Inventory for Finding Talent, Creativity Attitude Survey) with both instruments on locus of control. Children's Openness to Experience Scale did not correlate with either one of the locus of control instruments, although it correlated with the creativity measures. Multiple regression showed independence as the key predictor for internal locus of control. No difference was found based on gender or ethnicity on creative attitudes or locus of control. Qualitative results showed children with high and low creativity differed most on traits of independence and openness. An interesting finding was the impact of child-rearing styles on children's level of confidence and motivation regardless of high or low creativity. Hence, the study highlighted the nature and importance of the relationship between creative attitudes and locus of control in children.