C²RQA as the quantification method of the dynamics of collaborative creativity

This study introduces Content-based Cross-Recurrence Quantification Analysis (C²RQA) as a useful approach for visualizing and quantifying the dynamics of collaborative creative processes. Although the significance of the creative process is widely recognized in the existing literature, its inherent complexities-such as emergence, revisitation, representation, embodiment, and the interplay between conscious and subconscious elements-have historically hindered the development of standardized quantitative assessments. As a step toward addressing this gap, we propose Content-based Cross-Recurrence Quantification Analysis (C²RQA), an extension of CRQA that can process continuous, categorical, and binary data. By mapping detailed content correspondences between two time series, C²RQA enables examination of the complexity and dynamics of creative interactions. Our application of this method to idea generation, insight problem-solving, and drawing activities in art workshops illustrates its potential for capturing both macro-level conceptual transitions and micro-level cognitive and behavioral processes involved in collective creative endeavors.