These are my notes from Valerie Janesick’s opening presentation at the Qualitative Report Conference.

Valerie’s presentation focused on how creativity manifests in research. She made connections between dance and research, but I think some of her statements highlight the importance of creativity in research.

Here were her key features to the creative process:
preparation
incubation
insight
evaluation/feedback
elaboration

I really liked the following “Creativity Myth”

The lone artist/the lone ranger. You work with others. In the moment of insight – you can’t let it go. You need vision and you need feedback. There has to be a “loop.” You need a critique.

Here are some of the key ideas that highlight the essence of her presentation:

Having creative habit – not once and while – its an everyday thing – a job with its own routine
Preparation: “muscle memory” – observation
Incubation: ideas are always coming in and out of the mind – not static. Don’t stay in the linear track
Insight: Practice: How can you help someone claim their history if you don’t know your own.’
Elaboration: People don’t get it until you explain what your interpretation is. Since you are immersed in the context, you see feedback.
Creativity is about change. It is change of participants, change in the researcher.
Be playful and joyful – have a happiness about your work.
A creative person is both an extrovert and an introvert in one
You need a willingness to fail
Have consistency, constancy, and coherence of ideas
Keep up with your field. It’s going to change so you need to change.
When you restrict the social world you are going to restrict you answers
You extend stories by telling stories

She made some important points about writing as well.

writing is part of the process of being an artistic researcher
writing is about rewriting
if you are not going to write everyday, you are not going to get a book or an article.