Language properties of successful collaborative conversations
(A2022-106376)

AUTHORS

Alisa Wu, Columbia University; Melanie Brucks, Columbia University

ABSTRACT

We examine why conversations boost individual idea generation. By analyzing text data from two real-time interaction studies, we find that the discussions that boost a consumer’s creativity the most are with people who think most similarly to them. This is because similar others serve as “sounding boards” and clarify thinking.