Questions about co-creative research
Frequently asked questions about co-creative research are answered on this page. If there is a key aspect of co-creative research that needs additional explanation, please write to us.
First answers to important questions
Wie gelingt ko-kreative Forschung?
How does co-creative research succeed?
There is no one recipe, suitable research topic or right time. However, it is helpful to keep the following basic principles in mind when conducting co-creative research:
- Remain continuously open to interested and affected groups.
- Soften hierarchies
- Allow space for different forms of expertise
- Cultivate the ability to deal with conflict
- Develop iterative research processes
- Create knowledge jointly and interactively
- Focus on concrete questions and areas of application
- Act methodologically versatile and context-specific
Wie gelingt ko-kreative Forschung?
What does co-creative research look like in practice?
Co-creative research can have many faces and achieve different things. Two aspects are particularly important:
Collaboration: The core of co-creative research is the coming together of scientific and non-scientific actors (e.g. from civil society, politics, culture, industry or public administration) to design and implement a joint project. Impartiality in dealing with different forms of knowledge and the negotiation of controversies are the basis for respectful and constructive collective action.
Creativity: Co-creative approaches are always in flux: e.g. new phenomena, unexpected research questions, concrete prototypes, applications or development plans emerge. Through appropriate formats and methods, collective action can be taken despite and precisely because of this creative openness.
Wie gelingt ko-kreative Forschung?
Why is co-creation interesting and relevant to my research?
In order to master complex societal challenges such as climate change, digitalisation, artificial intelligence or pandemics, different forms of knowledge, problem perceptions and values must be taken into account. Co-creative research therefore involves actors from civil society, politics, industry or administration directly in the research process, not only after its completion.
Especially in times of fake news, populism and scepticism towards research, it is important not to 'hide' science only in laboratories and journals. Instead, we need to make it tangible, understandable and discussable as an important social practice.
Co-creativity offers opportunities to enrich one's own research and increase its relevance. And: Funding bodies also increasingly value the involvement of non-university stakeholders.
Wie gelingt ko-kreative Forschung?
How can the Knowledge Exchange Agency support me?
We are advisors with practical and research experience from various disciplines. We support your co-creative research project in every phase, whether you want to think about co-creative elements in your research in an open-ended and non-binding way, already have concrete ideas for implementation or would like to share your experiences.
We inspire, support and accompany:
- in identifying co-creative potential or relevant stakeholders
- in the conception of concrete formats and methods
- in the facilitation of participatory processes
- in retrospective evaluation and reflection
Get in touch with us. We look forward to talking to you!
Wie gelingt ko-kreative Forschung?
I am already doing co-creative research and am not looking for advice. Should I still contact the team?
Absolutely! We want to understand how you work, what projects you have already implemented! Furthermore, we would be happy to talk to you about reflecting on past and initiating future co-creative research.