The data files for the study "A Wandering Mind is Not Always a Creative Mind: How Thought Dynamics Explain the Relationship between Mind Wandering and Creativity". The study encompasses two surveys that aimed to explore how thought context and thought dynamics might influence creativity during idea generation.

Data for Study 1 contain self-reported thought context, thought dynamics, and creativity. Also, the creative profession (yes/ no) is present in the dataset. Data for Study 2 contain self-reported thought context and thought dynamics, self-reported and expert-rated originality and usefulness. In addition, aggregated data indicating creative and mind-wandering disposition is present in the dataset. All data are (aggregates of) (Likert) scales. The data were collected to explore how thought context and thought dynamics interact to shape creative thinking during idea generation.

Data files “data study 1.csv”- A comma-separated file that contains the survey data for study 1. The variable TaskType is categorical (1=”actively pursuing the project”, 2=”working on another work-related problem, project, or idea”, 3=”doing something unrelated to work (e.g., paying a bill)”. ThoughtType is also a categorical variable (1=”I was absorbed in the general idea or problem”, 2=”I was thinking about something unrelated to the general idea or problem”. Other variables are 5-point Likert scales. Note that demographics (age, gender) were removed to protect the participants' privacy.

“data study 2.csv”- A comma-separated file that contains the survey data for study 2. The response variables are ratings done on 5-point Likert scales. Demographics (age, gender) and reported ideas were also removed to protect the participants' privacy.

Structure data package “dataset study 1.csv” contains the survey data collected for study 1, whereas “dataset study 2.csv” contains the survey data collected for study 1. The datasets are not linked and analyzed separately. See the published papers for details on the analyses.

Method: Online surveys using Qualtrics Universe: Purposive sample (study 1), Convenience sample (study 2)

Production date: Study 1: 28 April 2020 until 31 August 2020 Study 2: 25 June 2020 until 31 December 2020