**3. Research approaches, conceptualization, and design**

For new research initiatives to contribute to the development and expansion of the research field of collaborative creativity, it is important to relate to a common conceptual framework. Research on creativity within psychology-oriented scientific perspectives and methodologies such as psychodynamic, cognitive, and behavioral sciences. Research on creativity with cognition perspectives has developed methodology and conceptual frameworks for studying creativity (e.g. divergent thinking, functional fixation, incubation, traits), where, for example, divergent thinking is operationalized and analyzed in three conceptual dimensions of fluency, flexibility, and originality.

Research with social psychology-oriented perspectives has developed methodology and other types of conceptual frameworks for studying creativity (e.g. social interaction, interdependence, group dynamics). Research findings on socially oriented creativity should also be related to divergence and convergence as well as originality and functionality.

To establish a common framework to enable comparison of findings, we suggest the following conceptual analogies: *Fluency* in studies on creativity in group interaction should be assessed and analyzed in terms of "intensity" in the exchange of ideas and dialog. *Flexibility* in group interaction should be assessed and analyzed in terms of "the number of different types of group ideas" that the group is able to accommodate during group interaction. The creativity dimension *originality* should be assessed and analyzed in relation to the conventions in the relevant field. For example, an originality in group interaction can be assessed and analyzed in terms of deviations from expected behavior, such as the degree of collective improvisation which the group cohesively manages to act and treat.

#### **3.1 Research conceptualization and design**

To form a coherent and consistent development through the sections of this chapter from the theory-based conceptual framework, via research approaches and design, a model for research design on collaborative creativity is presented in this section. This has the overall purpose of enabling comparable studies in terms of methodology and findings to continue developing the knowledge area of collaborative creativity with joint efforts.

A scientific methodological approach that lends itself well to research on collaborative creativity is critical realism (4). Utilizing ontologically based stratification of structures (e.g. outcome, group ideas), events (e.g, idea generation, dialog), and underlying mechanisms (e.g. interaction quality, improvisational attitude), the combination of different types of methods for data collection and analysis is enabled, that is, retroduction [71]. In the research design according to **Figure 2**, stratification is visualized in four levels, where each level can consist of several events and each event can be caused by several mechanisms. It is the research question that determines which mechanisms a particular study should consider as appropriate explaining factors for the particular event which are thus analyzed through critical realism's so-called retroduction.

**Figure 2.**

*Suggested research design for collaborative creativity; stratification levels, theoretical concepts for qualitative and statistical analysis.*

In relation to the methodology and research approach of critical realism, the proposed research design, the *mechanisms* are grouped into predictors and prerequisites. The *events* have also been grouped into two categories, that is, "conditions for collaborative creativity" and "group productivity."
