C2RQA as the quantification method of the dynamics of collaborative creativity

This study introduces Content-based Cross-Recurrence Quantification Analysis (C 2 RQA) 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 (C 2 RQA), an extension of CRQA that can process continuous, categorical, and binary data. By mapping detailed content correspondences between two time series, C 2 RQA 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.