Merton's 1961 groundbreaking analysis of "singletons" and "multiples" in science has offered evidence that novel ideas emerge from a loose network of thinkers who share a creative focus and collectively drive intellectual change. This proposal seeks to uncover the mechanisms underlying this creative 'stimulus' through a data-driven approach, providing a framework for identifying and analyzing inspirational cohorts, with a specific application to the emerging research area of Science of Purpose.
Our approach is enabled by four advances: (1) The curatorial efforts of the science of science community, providing comprehensive bibliographical data; (2) The increasing availability of full-text corpora across creative domains; (3) Advances in Natural Language Processing for analyzing entire disciplinary corpora; and (4) The emergence of large language models enabling cross-disciplinary interpretation. Together, these advances provide a unique opportunity to uncover how novel ideas emerge, spread, and cross-pollinate, revealing previously hidden inspirational links.
We plan to develop and apply this quantitative toolset through three main activities: First, mapping and tracking cross-disciplinary communities responsible for foundational ideas and scientific movements; second, examining the broader cultural contexts that foster inspirational cohorts; and third, applying this validated framework to the Science of Purpose. Using the Conceptual Inventory developed at the University of Minnesota, we will identify the concepts defining this movement, map their disciplinary roots, and help chart potential avenues for the field's future trajectory.
By combining network science tools, computational methods, and comprehensive databases, this project will transform our understanding of how intellectual movements emerge and evolve. The results will provide actionable insights for fostering innovative research communities and supporting emerging fields like the Science of Purpose.
