Scaffolding Flexible Ideation Workflows with AI in Creative Problem-Solving Article Swipe

PDF

Yong Yang , Vikram Mohanty , Nikolas Martelaro , Aniket Kittur , Yan-Ying Chen , Matthew K. Hong ·

YOU? · · 2025 · Open Access · · DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2509.12408

Divergent thinking in the ideation stage of creative problem-solving demands that individuals explore a broad design space. Yet this exploration rarely follows a neat, linear sequence; problem-solvers constantly shift among searching, creating, and evaluating ideas. Existing interfaces either impose rigid, step-by-step workflows or permit unguided free-form exploration. To strike a balance between flexibility and guidance for augmenting people's efficiency and creativity, we introduce a human-AI collaborative workflow that supports a fluid ideation process. The system surfaces three opt-in aids: (1) high-level schemas to uncover alternative ideas, (2) risk analysis with mitigation suggestions, and (3) steering system-generated suggestions. Users can invoke these supports at any moment, allowing seamless back-and-forth movement among design actions to maintain creative momentum.

Related Topics

Truth And Reconciliation Commission Of Canada

2025 Nba Draft

28 Years Later

Reich Ministry Of Public Enlightenment And Propaganda

Concepts

No concepts available.

Metadata

Type: preprint
Language: en
Landing Page: http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.12408
PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.12408
OA Status: green
OpenAlex ID: https://openalex.org/W4414787205

All OpenAlex metadata

Raw OpenAlex JSON

OpenAlex ID: https://openalex.org/W4414787205

Canonical identifier for this work in OpenAlex
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2509.12408

Digital Object Identifier
Title: Scaffolding Flexible Ideation Workflows with AI in Creative Problem-Solving

Work title
Type: preprint

OpenAlex work type
Language: en

Primary language
Publication year: 2025

Year of publication
Publication date: 2025-09-15

Full publication date if available
Authors: Yong Yang, Vikram Mohanty, Nikolas Martelaro, Aniket Kittur, Yan-Ying Chen, Matthew K. Hong

List of authors in order
Landing page: https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.12408

Publisher landing page
PDF URL: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.12408

Direct link to full text PDF
Open access: Yes

Whether a free full text is available
OA status: green

Open access status per OpenAlex
OA URL: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.12408

Direct OA link when available
Cited by: 0

Total citation count in OpenAlex

Full payload

id	https://openalex.org/W4414787205
doi	https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2509.12408
ids.doi	https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2509.12408
ids.openalex	https://openalex.org/W4414787205
fwci
type	preprint
title	Scaffolding Flexible Ideation Workflows with AI in Creative Problem-Solving
biblio.issue
biblio.volume
biblio.last_page
biblio.first_page
topics[0].id	https://openalex.org/T11986
topics[0].field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/18
topics[0].field.display_name	Decision Sciences
topics[0].score	0.8144000172615051
topics[0].domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/2
topics[0].domain.display_name	Social Sciences
topics[0].subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/1802
topics[0].subfield.display_name	Information Systems and Management
topics[0].display_name	Scientific Computing and Data Management
topics[1].id	https://openalex.org/T10731
topics[1].field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/32
topics[1].field.display_name	Psychology
topics[1].score	0.8058000206947327
topics[1].domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/2
topics[1].domain.display_name	Social Sciences
topics[1].subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/3204
topics[1].subfield.display_name	Developmental and Educational Psychology
topics[1].display_name	Educational Games and Gamification
topics[2].id	https://openalex.org/T11079
topics[2].field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/32
topics[2].field.display_name	Psychology
topics[2].score	0.7669000029563904
topics[2].domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/2
topics[2].domain.display_name	Social Sciences
topics[2].subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/3205
topics[2].subfield.display_name	Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
topics[2].display_name	Creativity in Education and Neuroscience
is_xpac	False
apc_list
apc_paid
language	en
locations[0].id	pmh:oai:arXiv.org:2509.12408
locations[0].is_oa	True
locations[0].source.id	https://openalex.org/S4306400194
locations[0].source.issn
locations[0].source.type	repository
locations[0].source.is_oa	True
locations[0].source.issn_l
locations[0].source.is_core	False
locations[0].source.is_in_doaj	False
locations[0].source.display_name	arXiv (Cornell University)
locations[0].source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/I205783295
locations[0].source.host_organization_name	Cornell University
locations[0].source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/I205783295
locations[0].license
locations[0].pdf_url	https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.12408
locations[0].version	submittedVersion
locations[0].raw_type	text
locations[0].license_id
locations[0].is_accepted	False
locations[0].is_published	False
locations[0].raw_source_name
locations[0].landing_page_url	http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.12408
locations[1].id	doi:10.48550/arxiv.2509.12408
locations[1].is_oa	True
locations[1].source.id	https://openalex.org/S4306400194
locations[1].source.issn
locations[1].source.type	repository
locations[1].source.is_oa	True
locations[1].source.issn_l
locations[1].source.is_core	False
locations[1].source.is_in_doaj	False
locations[1].source.display_name	arXiv (Cornell University)
locations[1].source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/I205783295
locations[1].source.host_organization_name	Cornell University
locations[1].source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/I205783295
locations[1].license	cc-by
locations[1].pdf_url
locations[1].version
locations[1].raw_type	article
locations[1].license_id	https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by
locations[1].is_accepted	False
locations[1].is_published
locations[1].raw_source_name
locations[1].landing_page_url	https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2509.12408
indexed_in	arxiv, datacite
authorships[0].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5101710557
authorships[0].author.orcid	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6775-1189
authorships[0].author.display_name	Yong Yang
authorships[0].author_position	first
authorships[0].raw_author_name	Yang, Yaqing
authorships[0].is_corresponding	False
authorships[1].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5119770876
authorships[1].author.orcid
authorships[1].author.display_name	Vikram Mohanty
authorships[1].author_position	middle
authorships[1].raw_author_name	Mohanty, Vikram
authorships[1].is_corresponding	False
authorships[2].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5075763217
authorships[2].author.orcid	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1824-0243
authorships[2].author.display_name	Nikolas Martelaro
authorships[2].author_position	middle
authorships[2].raw_author_name	Martelaro, Nikolas
authorships[2].is_corresponding	False
authorships[3].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5050656871
authorships[3].author.orcid	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4192-9302
authorships[3].author.display_name	Aniket Kittur
authorships[3].author_position	middle
authorships[3].raw_author_name	Kittur, Aniket
authorships[3].is_corresponding	False
authorships[4].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5034909215
authorships[4].author.orcid	https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5901-1538
authorships[4].author.display_name	Yan-Ying Chen
authorships[4].author_position	middle
authorships[4].raw_author_name	Chen, Yan-Ying
authorships[4].is_corresponding	False
authorships[5].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5013352663
authorships[5].author.orcid	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0322-5144
authorships[5].author.display_name	Matthew K. Hong
authorships[5].author_position	last
authorships[5].raw_author_name	Hong, Matthew K.
authorships[5].is_corresponding	False
has_content.pdf	False
has_content.grobid_xml	False
is_paratext	False
open_access.is_oa	True
open_access.oa_url	https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.12408
open_access.oa_status	green
open_access.any_repository_has_fulltext	False
created_date	2025-10-10T00:00:00
display_name	Scaffolding Flexible Ideation Workflows with AI in Creative Problem-Solving
has_fulltext	False
is_retracted	False
updated_date	2025-11-06T06:51:31.235846
primary_topic.id	https://openalex.org/T11986
primary_topic.field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/18
primary_topic.field.display_name	Decision Sciences
primary_topic.score	0.8144000172615051
primary_topic.domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/2
primary_topic.domain.display_name	Social Sciences
primary_topic.subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/1802
primary_topic.subfield.display_name	Information Systems and Management
primary_topic.display_name	Scientific Computing and Data Management
cited_by_count	0
locations_count	2
best_oa_location.id	pmh:oai:arXiv.org:2509.12408
best_oa_location.is_oa	True
best_oa_location.source.id	https://openalex.org/S4306400194
best_oa_location.source.issn
best_oa_location.source.type	repository
best_oa_location.source.is_oa	True
best_oa_location.source.issn_l
best_oa_location.source.is_core	False
best_oa_location.source.is_in_doaj	False
best_oa_location.source.display_name	arXiv (Cornell University)
best_oa_location.source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/I205783295
best_oa_location.source.host_organization_name	Cornell University
best_oa_location.source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/I205783295
best_oa_location.license
best_oa_location.pdf_url	https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.12408
best_oa_location.version	submittedVersion
best_oa_location.raw_type	text
best_oa_location.license_id
best_oa_location.is_accepted	False
best_oa_location.is_published	False
best_oa_location.raw_source_name
best_oa_location.landing_page_url	http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.12408
primary_location.id	pmh:oai:arXiv.org:2509.12408
primary_location.is_oa	True
primary_location.source.id	https://openalex.org/S4306400194
primary_location.source.issn
primary_location.source.type	repository
primary_location.source.is_oa	True
primary_location.source.issn_l
primary_location.source.is_core	False
primary_location.source.is_in_doaj	False
primary_location.source.display_name	arXiv (Cornell University)
primary_location.source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/I205783295
primary_location.source.host_organization_name	Cornell University
primary_location.source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/I205783295
primary_location.license
primary_location.pdf_url	https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.12408
primary_location.version	submittedVersion
primary_location.raw_type	text
primary_location.license_id
primary_location.is_accepted	False
primary_location.is_published	False
primary_location.raw_source_name
primary_location.landing_page_url	http://arxiv.org/abs/2509.12408
publication_date	2025-09-15
publication_year	2025
referenced_works_count	0
abstract_inverted_index.a	13, 22, 49, 63, 69
abstract_inverted_index.To	47
abstract_inverted_index.at	102
abstract_inverted_index.in	2
abstract_inverted_index.of	6
abstract_inverted_index.or	42
abstract_inverted_index.to	82, 112
abstract_inverted_index.we	61
abstract_inverted_index.(1)	79
abstract_inverted_index.(2)	86
abstract_inverted_index.(3)	93
abstract_inverted_index.The	73
abstract_inverted_index.Yet	17
abstract_inverted_index.and	32, 53, 59, 92
abstract_inverted_index.any	103
abstract_inverted_index.can	98
abstract_inverted_index.for	55
abstract_inverted_index.the	3
abstract_inverted_index.risk	87
abstract_inverted_index.that	10, 67
abstract_inverted_index.this	18
abstract_inverted_index.with	89
abstract_inverted_index.Users	97
abstract_inverted_index.aids:	78
abstract_inverted_index.among	29, 109
abstract_inverted_index.broad	14
abstract_inverted_index.fluid	70
abstract_inverted_index.neat,	23
abstract_inverted_index.shift	28
abstract_inverted_index.stage	5
abstract_inverted_index.these	100
abstract_inverted_index.three	76
abstract_inverted_index.design	15, 110
abstract_inverted_index.either	37
abstract_inverted_index.ideas,	85
abstract_inverted_index.ideas.	34
abstract_inverted_index.impose	38
abstract_inverted_index.invoke	99
abstract_inverted_index.linear	24
abstract_inverted_index.opt-in	77
abstract_inverted_index.permit	43
abstract_inverted_index.rarely	20
abstract_inverted_index.rigid,	39
abstract_inverted_index.space.	16
abstract_inverted_index.strike	48
abstract_inverted_index.system	74
abstract_inverted_index.actions	111
abstract_inverted_index.balance	50
abstract_inverted_index.between	51
abstract_inverted_index.demands	9
abstract_inverted_index.explore	12
abstract_inverted_index.follows	21
abstract_inverted_index.moment,	104
abstract_inverted_index.schemas	81
abstract_inverted_index.uncover	83
abstract_inverted_index.Existing	35
abstract_inverted_index.allowing	105
abstract_inverted_index.analysis	88
abstract_inverted_index.creative	7, 114
abstract_inverted_index.guidance	54
abstract_inverted_index.human-AI	64
abstract_inverted_index.ideation	4, 71
abstract_inverted_index.maintain	113
abstract_inverted_index.movement	108
abstract_inverted_index.people's	57
abstract_inverted_index.process.	72
abstract_inverted_index.seamless	106
abstract_inverted_index.steering	94
abstract_inverted_index.supports	68, 101
abstract_inverted_index.surfaces	75
abstract_inverted_index.thinking	1
abstract_inverted_index.unguided	44
abstract_inverted_index.workflow	66
abstract_inverted_index.Divergent	0
abstract_inverted_index.creating,	31
abstract_inverted_index.free-form	45
abstract_inverted_index.introduce	62
abstract_inverted_index.momentum.	115
abstract_inverted_index.sequence;	25
abstract_inverted_index.workflows	41
abstract_inverted_index.augmenting	56
abstract_inverted_index.constantly	27
abstract_inverted_index.efficiency	58
abstract_inverted_index.evaluating	33
abstract_inverted_index.high-level	80
abstract_inverted_index.interfaces	36
abstract_inverted_index.mitigation	90
abstract_inverted_index.searching,	30
abstract_inverted_index.alternative	84
abstract_inverted_index.creativity,	60
abstract_inverted_index.exploration	19
abstract_inverted_index.flexibility	52
abstract_inverted_index.individuals	11
abstract_inverted_index.exploration.	46
abstract_inverted_index.step-by-step	40
abstract_inverted_index.suggestions,	91
abstract_inverted_index.suggestions.	96
abstract_inverted_index.collaborative	65
abstract_inverted_index.back-and-forth	107
abstract_inverted_index.problem-solvers	26
abstract_inverted_index.problem-solving	8
abstract_inverted_index.system-generated	95
cited_by_percentile_year
countries_distinct_count	0
institutions_distinct_count	6
citation_normalized_percentile