What is the current research in brainstorming thought organization?

Question

I am looking for references to current research in cognitive psychology into what are effective methods that people use to organize ideas developed through brainstorming to come to conclusions and solutions to problems. I am interested in a "meta" view as to how people cognitively represent information that starts out disorganized (i.e., as random thoughts) and use those representations to organize the thoughts, determine what is important, and come to conclusions.

Answer 1

In my opinion this area is pretty grey, there is little objective research done on brainstorming as far as I experienced. For my bachelor project I did some research on it. Interesting for you might be to contact someone at the international center for studies in creativity http://www.buffalostate.edu/centers/creativity/ . A year ago they helped me along pretty well, if you want you can always contact me for my research reports my main goal was to define a technique to support brainstorming over a longer phase.

Answer 2

You know, I have about 60 books about creativity, and the "funneling down" phase after brainstorming is just not treated very well. In any case, it's not the "research" that's important, but methods for going from hundreds of ideas to a single action strategy.

I've taught thousands of managers and led hundreds of creative problem sovling groups. In the thought organization phase, the idea is to involve the brainstorming participants and not to turn it into a laborious drill.

Make sure the problem/opportunity statement is reaffirmed. One method is to put all the ideas on the wall, and have everyone to put a check by the 5 most useful ideas, in their judgment. Those receiving the most marks can be circled. Then ask the small groups to group the best ideas into solution clusters. Then take the clusters and have the groups flesh out an action strategy for each cluster.

This goes more quickly if post-it notes were used in the brainstorming, and if you spread the tasks among the subgroups.

The large group can discuss and evaluate the pros and cons of the strategies. The results of their work can be recorded and presented to management.

Answer 3

In war

Answer 4

flow charts and lots of people's idea's in a group setting!
then one person puts it together (me) and presents it to the person who needs the idea!
that's how we do it where i work!

Answer 5

reference...have a look

Answer 6

http://www.youthlearn.org/learning/planning/brainstorm.asp

http://www.tradio21.org/node/56