Mike Unrau, The University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Canada

Abstract: Most scholarly discussions of novelty offer only partial or specified views of what it is or how it can be assessed particular to a discipline or are limited to individual studies. This article investigates novelty with the goal of offering a multi-systemic and generalizable definition and assessment process to be applicable across multiple disciplines. Novelty is proposed as a quality and state, which includes both a qualitative view that integrates subjective experience and a quantitative view that addresses nonlinear dynamical systems. It is also described as a comparative relatedness of space, time, and context. An outlier profile is defined to search for features of the system that are original or unusual, and a low-recurrence profile for features of the system that are unexpected or a surprise. A detailed research strategy is offered for novelty assessment with an example, and is usable across multiple disciplinary contexts in the sciences and humanities for studies of academic and practical use.

Keywords: innovation, novelty assessment, nonlinear dynamics, subjectivity, qualitative novelty