Is Creativity Research Viable? Linda Candy KCDCC Talk University of Sydney May 8th 2006

Research Problem Creativity is difficult to measure Research requires well-controlled situations Creativity under control is problematic

Research Problem Creativity in the world is very difficult to measure Creativity research in context requires intrinsic motivation naturalistic settings

Creativity?

A Model of Creativity

Model of Creative Knowledge Work

Collaborative Creative Knowledge Work ACTORS

Creativity?

Creativity in Practice

Interpretations of Creativity Novelty + Value Innovation, Invention, New Useful, Purposeful, Significant Discipline Psychological, Social, Cultural … Domain Art, Design, Education, Engineering, Finance …

Definitions “Creativity is best described as the human capacity regularly to solve problems or to fashion products in a domain, in a way that is initially novel but ultimately acceptable in a culture.” (Gardner, 1989) “Creative products, be they poems, scientific theories, paintings or technological advances, are both novel and acknowledged to be valuable or useful in some way.” (Gilhooly, 1982) “Creativity is a process that can be observed only at the intersection where individuals, domains and fields intersect.” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1999)

CREATIVIT Y PEOPLE PROCESS PRODUCT INDIVIDUAL SOCIETY CULTURE RECOGNITION SIMULATION CRITIQUE BIOGRAPHY EXPERIMENT OBSERVATION

Experiments and Creativity Can experiments address context? Not if settings and motivation matter… Experimental research delivers an understanding of basic elements of creative potential rather than the essence of creativity in practice

Creativity in Practice

Research Approaches Experimental studies involve active manipulation of creative performance… Ethnographic (naturalistic) studies require non- intervention in the process… An alternative approach is to bring the ‘subject’ perspective into ethnographic style research Participant research in user centred design Practice-based research in creative arts

Practice-Based Research Practitioner Led Projects Two main types - PhD programmes in art and design institutions - Practice-based research projects Situated studies Creativity research in context of studios, exhibition spaces… Observer viewpoints External researcher data collection and analysis Practitioner accounts Personal reflections on creative process and artefacts

Practice-based Methods Monitor events concerned with Creative process in practice… Materials and methods… Support: expertise, resources…

Practice-based Methods Observer and Practitioner Record of Events Experiences Perceptions Reflections

Practice-based Methods Practitioner viewpoint: Experiences Motivation and context What is proposed, decided and acted on Stumbling blocks and actions on them Perceptions Reflections

Practice-based Methods Practitioner viewpoint: Experiences Perceptions Are ideas workable, challenging etc.? How collaborations worked Reasons for success and failure Reflections

Practice-based Methods Practitioner viewpoint: Experiences Perceptions Reflections A good result? If not, why not Contrasting views Lessons learnt Next steps

Acquiring Evidence Data Collection Data Analysis Approach Methods Techniques Instruments Tools Equipment Approach: Practice-based Method: Create artefact Technique: Reflective analysis Tools: Log book Equipment: Computer, paper and pencil

Creative Product How does the artefact contribute to our understanding of creativity in practice? Practitioner viewpoint: Represents practitioner’s ideas and materials Embodies current status of practitioner’s experimentation in a creative life Central component in the practitioner’s reflective process

Creative Product How does the artefact contribute to our understanding of creativity in practice? Observer-Researcher viewpoint: Example of practitioner’s ideas and materials An indication of current status of practitioner’s experimentation in a creative life An component in the practitioner’s reflective process

Creative Product The practitioner learns from the artefact how to shape a specific process of creation The researcher understands the role of the artefact in creative thought and action more generally

Creativity & Cognition 2007