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Research Article • BAR, Braz. Adm. Rev. 19 (4) • 2022 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-7692bar2022220065 copy

Curiosity Unlocked the Cat: The Relationship between Curiosity at Work and Worker Creativity

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Worker creativity can be considered a determining factor in the process of idea generation and innovation within a company. This behavior is determined by both worker characteristics and perceived stimuli. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed how the worker’s creativity is influenced by his or her curiosity and ability to associate ideas. We also analyzed how the relationship between curiosity and creativity is influenced by risk propensity and the organizational support perceived by the worker. The results achieved indicate that curiosity at work has a direct and indirect effect on worker creativity. The indirect effect observed depends on the association of ideas, which tend to increase the creativity of the worker. It was also found that risk propensity and perceived organizational support for creativity did not influence the indirect relationship between curiosity and creativity. These results highlight the importance of instigating worker curiosity to induce more creative and innovative behavior.

Keywords:
curiosity at work; worker creativity; association of ideas; risk propensity; perceived organizational support

DESCRIPTION	CHARACTERIZATION	PERCENTAGE (%)
Gender	Female Male	53.96% 46.04%
Age in years	Up to 17 18 to 24 25 to 34 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 64 65 & above	0.14% 5.90% 37.99% 34.82% 15.97% 4.17% 1.01%
Education	Elementary School High School/Technical Graduated MBA and Specializations Master’s Degree Doctorate Other	0.72% 7.48% 33.24% 48.20% 6.47% 1.01% 2.88%
Income	Up to BRL 2,000.00 Between BRL 2,000.00 and BRL 4,999.00 Between BRL 5,000.00 and BRL 9,999.00 Between BRL 10,000.00 and BRL 14,999.00 Over BRL 15,000.00	4.75% 26.76% 31.80% 16.55% 20.14%
Regions	Midwest Northeast North Southeast South	62.73% 15.54% 3.74% 13.67% 4.32%
Service Time in years	Up to 2 between 2 to 4 between 4 to 6 between 6 to 8 Over 8	22.30% 17.12% 15.54% 11.37% 33.67%

	1	2	3	4	5
1 - CW	0.767
2 - WC	0.752	0.795
3 - AI	0.561	0.666	0.854
4 - PR	0.440	0.501	0.430	0.835
5 - PS	0.213	0.335	0.285	0.204	0.882
AVE	0.588	0.632	0.729	0.698	0.778
CR	0.851	0.939	0.890	0.949	0.913
AC	0.767	0.927	0.814	0.938	0.859
Rho_A	0.771	0.928	0.818	0.941	0.904

	1	2	3	4	5
1 - CW
2 - WC	0.884
3 - AI	0.709	0.765
4 - PR	0.513	0.533	0.486
5 - PS	0.243	0.360	0.327	0.222

Effects	Hypotheses	Results without control	Results with control
		Coef.	p-value	Coef.	p-value
Direct CW → WC	H1	0.554	0.000**	0.550	0.000**
CW → AI	H2	0.562	0.000**	0.538	0.000**
Indirect CW → AI → WC	H3	0.199	0.000**	0.185	0.000**
Control variables
Education → Association of ideas		0.062			0.047*
Gender →Association of ideas		0.127			0.000**
Gender → Worker’s creativity		0.044			0.048*
Region → Association of ideas		0.043			0.165
Region → Worker’s creativity		0.003			0.931
Gender → Worker’s creativity		0.055			0.014*

Structural relationship	Gardner et al. (2017, p.614) (2017, p.614)		f²	Coef.	p-value
PR → AI (mediator) CW → AI → WC PR → AI	H4	XZ X Z	0.001	-0.016	0.370
PS → AI (mediator) CW → AI → WC PS → AI	H5	XZ X Z	0.000	-0.002	0.931

Constructors	Factorial charge	Item - Original	Item - Adapted
Curiosity at work (CW)	CW1 = excluded	1. I am interested in how my contribution impacts the company.	I am interested in how my contributions impact the company I work for (or if unemployed, “the last company I worked for”).
	CW2 = 0.786	2. I enjoy developing new strategies.	I like to develop new strategies.

	CW3 = excluded	3. Regarding practical problems, I’m also interested in the underlying theory.	As for practical problems, I am not only interested in knowing them, but also in understanding why they happened.
	CW4 = 0.771	4. When confronted with complex problems, I like to look for new solutions.	When faced with complex problems, I like to look for new solutions.
	CW5 = excluded	5. I enjoy pondering and thinking.	I like to think before I act.
Mussel et al. (2012)	CW6 = excluded	6. I am eager to learn.	I am a person who loves to learn.
Mussel et al. (2012)	CW7 = excluded	7. I keep thinking about a problem until I’ve solved it.	I keep thinking about a problem until I solve it.
	CW8 = excluded	8. I challenge already existing theories critically.	I tend to ask myself if the explanations that are given for certain problems really apply to what I am observing.
	CW9 = 0.725	9. I carry on seeking information until I am able to understand complex issues.	I keep looking for information until I understand complex issues.
	CW10 = 0.784	10. I try to improve work processes by making innovative suggestions.	I try to improve work processes by making innovative suggestions.
Worker’s creativity (WC)	WC1 = excluded	1. Suggests new ways to achieve goals or objectives.	I suggest new ways to achieve goals or objectives.
Worker’s creativity (WC)	WC2 = 0.794	2. Comes up with new and practical ideas to improve performance.	I have new and practical ideas for improving performance.
Zhou and George (2001); Scott and Bruce (1994)	WC3 = 0.739	3. Searches out new technologies, processes, techniques, and/or product ideas.	I look for new technologies, processes, techniques and/or ideas for new products/services.
	WC4 = excluded	4. I suggest new ways to increase quality.	I suggest new ways to increase quality.
	WC5 = 0.812	5. I am a good source of creative ideas.	I’m a good source of creative ideas.
	WC6 = excluded	6. I am not afraid to take risks.	I’m not afraid to take risks.
	WC7 = 0.752	7. Promotes and champions ideas to others.	I promote and share new ideas.
	WC8 = 0.806	8. Exhibits creativity on the job when given the opportunity to.	I demonstrate creativity at work when the opportunity to do so arises.
Constructors	Factorial charge	Item - Original	Item - Adapted
	WC9 = 0.738	9. Develops adequate plans and schedules for the implementation of new ideas.	I develop suitable plans to implement new ideas.
	WC10 = 0.845	10. Often has new and innovative ideas.	I often have new and innovative ideas.
	WC11 = 0.842	11. Comes with creative solutions to problems.	I find creative solutions to problems.
	WC12 = excluded	12. Often has a fresh approach to problems.	I often deal with the problems I face in a natural way.
	WC13 = 0.820	13. Suggests new ways of performing work tasks.	I suggest new ways of performing work tasks.
Association of ideas (AI) Hagtvedt et al. (2019)	AI1 = 0.827	1. I develop early ideas knowing that I’ll use them mainly as a stepping stone to a final idea.	I think of things in advance knowing that I will use them as an intermediate step toward a final idea.
	AI2 = 0.876	2. I use one idea as a springboard to the next.	I use one idea as a springboard to the next one.
	AI3 = 0.858	3. Initial ideas often point me toward additional possibilities.	In general, initial ideas make me see other possibilities later.
Propensity to risk (PR)	PR1 = 0.790	1. Taking risks makes life more fun.	Taking risks makes my life more fun.
Propensity to risk (PR)	PR2 = 0.856	2. My friends would say that I’m a risk taker.	My friends would say I like to take risks.
Zhang et al. (2018)	PR3 = 0.874	3. I enjoy taking risks in most aspects of my life.	I like to take risks in most aspects of my life.
	PR4 = 0.820	4. I would take a risk even if it meant I might get hurt.	I tend to take risks, even if it might affect me negatively.
	PR5 = 0.844	5. Taking risks in an important part of my life.	I consider taking risks to be an important part of my life.
	PR6 = 0.841	6. I commonly make risky decisions.	I tend to make risky decisions.
	PR7 = 0.822	7. I am a believer of talking chances.	I believe it’s worth taking risks.
	PR8 = 0.831	8. I am attracted, rather than scared, by risk.	I am attracted, rather than scared, by risk.
Perceived organizational support (PS)	PS1 = 0.900	1. Creativity is encouraged at [company].	Creativity is encouraged in the company I work for.
Perceived organizational support (PS)	PS2 = 0.916	2. Our ability to function creatively is respected by the leadership.	My ability to act creatively is respected by the leadership in the company I work for.
Zhou and George (2001); Scott and Bruce (1994)	PS3 = 0.827	3. The reward system here encourages innovation.	The reward system at the company I work for encourages innovation.
	PS4 = excluded	4. [Company] publicly recognizes those who are innovative.	The company I work for publicly recognizes those who are innovators.

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