1. Collaboration: What, why, and how?
Howard Goldstein
Associate Dean of Research
College of Behavioral & Community Sciences
September 26, 2014

2. What outcomes do you associate with collaboration?

3. Defining collaboration is difficult
Harkens back to our discussion on mentorship

4. Mentoring Model (Anderson & Shannon, 1988) MENTORING MENTORING
DISPOSITIONS
MENTORING
DISPOSITIONS
Leading Incrementally
Opening Ourselves
MENTORING RELATIONSHIP
Role Model: X is a model for Y
Nurture: X nurtures Y
Care Giver : X cares for Y
FUNCTIONS OF MENTORING
TEACH:
model
inform
confirm/disconfirm
prescribe
question
SPONSOR:
protect
support
promote
ENCOURAGE:
affirm
inspire
challenge
COUNSEL:
listen
probe
clarity
advise
BEFRIEND:
accept
relate
MENTORING ACTIVITIES
Demonstrate lessons
Arrange for practice of skills
Observe and provide feedback
Arrange support meetings
Expressing Care and Concern

5. Is growth in multiple authorships evidence of more collaboration
Is growth in multiple authorships evidence of more collaboration? Or is it a function of:
Changes in funding patterns
Increased scientific specialization
Need to gain experience or training efficiently
Desire for cross-fertilization of ideas across disciplines
Desire to work in close proximity with others to benefit from their skills and tacit knowledge
Pooling of knowledge to keep up with scientific advances

6. Isn’t it about relationship development?
Social dimension
Intellectual dimension
Is proximity necessary?
How learn one another’s language?
Science is a social institution where advances depend crucially on interactions with other scientists

7. Did you know?
The total credit given by the scientific community to all the authors of a jointly authored paper is greater on average than the credit allocated to the author of a single-author paper.
The number of co-authors also appears to be strongly correlated with the impact of a paper.

8. Different levels of collaboration
Intra
Inter
Individual
Between individuals
Group
Same research group
Between groups in same dept.
Department
In same dept
Between depts in same institution
Institution
In same institution
Between institutions
Sector
In same sector
Between institutions in different sectors
Nation
In same country
Between institutions in different countries
Katz & Martin (1997). What is research collaboration? Research Policy, 26, 1-18.

9. Possible Benefits
Allows research on complex problems demanding an array of skills
Facilitates transfer of knowledge and skills
Generates new insights through cross-fertilization of ideas
Provides intellectual companionship
Helps broaden network of contacts
Enhances visibility of work

10. Possible Costs Travel, transportation, and communication Time
Increased administrative costs
Reconciling different management cultures, financial systems, rules on intellectual property rights

11. Fostering Research Collaboration
Finding research expertise
Collaborative Proposal Resources
Affiliating with Centers and Institutes
10 Tools for Academic Research

12. Collaborations do not always work out
Sharing is an important skill in early childhood development
Communication and shared expectations are key to success
Beware of power hierarchies and exploitive relationships
Collaborative relationships change over time

13. “Collaboration” is difficult to define
Largely a matter of social convention among scientists
When do informal linkages between individuals or groups become collaborations?
Varies across institutions, fields, countries
May change over time as well