Interdisciplinary Collaborations Module 1: Getting Started
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As the frontiers of knowledge are pushed back the problems get more and more difficult, often requiring large, complex teams -frequently multidisciplinary- to make progress."
(Olson et al., 2000)
Getting Started
What is Collaboration?
- Collaboration is a process by which individuals work jointly to accomplish a goal.
- Collaboration frequently involves intellectual endeavors
- Collaboration implies that all participants bring something unique and valuable to the project
- Collaboration implies benefit to all parties
What Collaboration is not
- Use of another's resources in the absence of mutual interest or benefit to those providing the resources
- Receiving training in unfamiliar procedures from a more experienced researcher
- Mentoring of a junior researcher by a senior researcher
Why Collaborate?
- Gain access to broader resources (Olson et al., 2000 )
- Material resources
- Libraries
- Data bases
- Special instrumentation
- Intellectual resources
- Other scientists knowledge
- Methodological skills
Why Collaborate?
- Involve students in research
- Experience
- With other disciplines
- With other research methods
- With other theoretical perspectives
- Networking
- An important aspect of the doctoral experience
- It's never too late
Why Collaborate?
- Maintain existing relationships
- Foster career
- Increase number of publications
- Establish valuable relationships
Why Collaborate?
- Change process of research
- Combined efforts yield higher quality research (Kraut et al., 1988)
- Facilitates dissemination of results (Crane, 1972)
- Fun! (Kraut et al., 1988)
How to Find a Collaborator
- Common Methods
- "Friendship" method (Kraut et al., 1988)
- Chance meeting that fosters mutual liking
- Decide to work together
- "Courtship" method (Kraut et al., 1988)
- Seek out author based on his previous work/reputation
- Propose collaboration
- "Blind date" method
- Collaboration set up/encouraged by 3rd party
How to Find a Collaborator
- Select a doctoral program that encourages collaboration
- Network
- Develop research skills that will attract collaborators
- Contact others
- Only engage in collaborations that benefit you
- Timing
- Resources
- Interpersonal interactions
- Do not initiate unless prepared to follow through
How to Find a Collaborator
- Geographical Proximity
- Peer relationship
- Within department
- Interdepartmental
- The local community
- Faculty/student relationship
- Benefits to students
- Advice to students
Establishing a Working Relationship
"Establishment and maintenance of a personal relationship is the glue that holds together the pieces of a collaborative research effort." (Kraut et al., 1988)
- The essentials:
- Find "Common Ground"
- Communicate
- Address individual & team values
- Establish trust
Common Ground (Olson & Olson, 2000)
- Knowledge that participants have in common and that they are aware they have in common
- How to establish common ground?
- Know your collaborators' backgrounds
- Research interests
- Professional goals
- Work style
- Common ground >> communication >> increase in productivity
Communication
"Communication skill may be the most important factor in collaboration" (Andrews, 1990)
Communication (Andrews, 1990)
- Allows participants to understand expectations
- Meetings
- Attendance
- Agendas
- Confidentiality
- Time frames
- Participation
- Eliminates ambiguity in interdisciplinary work
- Define professional terms
- Avoid organizational jargon
- Share critical core concepts
Interpersonal Issues: Values
"Sometimes we mistake our cultural values for 'universal values' and judge behavior negatively if it does not conform to our own standards." (McDermott et al., 1998)
- Established during formative years (approximately 21 years) (Manning et al., 1996)
- Not easily changed
- Communicated through actions, not words
- Generational differences
- Cultural differences
Interpersonal Issues: Generational Differences (Manning et al., 1996)
- Motivation to work
- Young work for...
- Social reasons
- Self fulfillment
- To have leisure
- Old work for...
- Money
- Self fulfillment
- Security
- Other aspects
- Reaction to change
- Appearance
- Authority
- Respect for property
Interpersonal Issues: Cultural Differences
"Culture can help explain the background of team members but each person must be evaluated individually as a singular human being" (McDermott et al., 1998)
- Relevant in local and distance collaborations
- Differences in process
- Scientific style
- International human subjects issues
- Styles of management
- Turn taking style
- Response to authority
Addressing Cultural Differences
- Cultural diversity ground rules (McDermott et al., 1998)
- Know your own values
- Consider team members as individuals, not stereotypes
- Engage in dialogue comparing cultures
- Learn about team members
- Establish common ground
- Don't hesitate to communicate
- Do not assume behavior that is unacceptable or disagreeable is intentional
- Express cultural curiosity and empathy
- Assume many perspectives yield better outcome than fewer perspectives (Alder, 1986)
- Important to acknowledge cultural differences (McDermott et al.,1998)
- Minimize problems
- Maximize potential advantages
- Team building activity (McDermott et al.,1998)
- Members will disclose a cultural characteristic that other members may find challenging
Establishing Team Values
"A team's values, its moral and ethical principles, will guide the team's behaviors" (McDermott et al., 1998)
- Given the variability of individual values, team members should be aware of the values that are important to the group
- Values will translate into goals and actions
Establish Trust
"Trust in a collaborator is crucial for the productivity and longevity of relationship." (Kraut et al., 1988)
- Trust is established by (Olson & Olson, 2000)
- Effort to fulfill commitments
- Honesty
- Not taking advantage of partners
- Trust emerges from face to face interactions (Kraut et al., 1988)
- Research is lacking on the use of videos in the establishment of trust (Olson & Olson, 2000)
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