As an early career researcher, you recognize the importance of keeping up with your research agenda. Initially, that research agenda may consist of solely personal research projects and papers for publication but there comes a time when the prospect of collaborative research work arises. Maybe you’re one who has always been excited about such prospects or maybe you fall into the group who’d rather work alone. But the old African proverb rings true: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” In essence, this is saying that research collaborations may offer a number of benefits over remaining a lone researcher.
Benefits of research collaborations
While some research collaborations may focus on small-scale projects, others can afford you opportunities to work on larger-scale projects – the type that is commissioned or sponsored by governments, NGOs or professional bodies (oooh!) and which may focus on much larger data sets across nations, for instance. Such collaborations may also bring in larger sums of money through sponsorship grants for your university. Moreover, because in higher education publications from research, collaborations tend to be viewed more highly than single-authored works, you would likely earn higher points towards promotion.
Another benefit is that collaborative research work provides opportunities to work with researchers who are most likely better well known than you are in professional circles and research communities and thus has the pleasant effect of significantly boosting your own reputation as a researcher because you would be recognized as having worked with that well-reputed researcher. The add-on is that your own professional and research networks begin to grow, which is important in academia.
Thirdly, as your name and work become more recognized, they open up for you more and more professional opportunities, such as more research collaborations, which then increases the number of publications that you have and the impact that you can make. Invitations to review journal articles and to speak at conferences may also increase as you become more well known as an authority on certain topics.
Nightmare research collaborations
Yet, despite the great benefits research collaborations can yield, they’re not always easy to manage in the long run and yes, they tend to run longer than the average personal project. Some may end prematurely, leaving you upset and feeling that you’ve wasted valuable time. There may be personality clashes (people will be people), cross-cultural misunderstandings especially with international collaborations, unresolvable differences in requirements and operations between collaborators’ universities or even significant delays caused by a collaborator who doesn’t do his/her part. Before you lose heart, most of these can be prevented or managed or, at the very least, they may teach you meaningful lessons for future collaborations.
Fruitful research collaborations: How?
- Invite persons to collaborate; you don’t have to wait for an invitation
- If you are invited on a collaborative project, however, check out your collaborators’ research profile, speak to one or two persons who may know your potential collaborators so that you can make an informed decision. You also need to weigh carefully if the proposed work fits in with your research agenda and if not, consider if it is one that you really want to branch out into. It is not useful to you or the research team if you are not particularly interested in the work. They will and should expect you to contribute meaningfully, respectfully and on time.
- Ensure that you are clear about your role and those of others. Early on, collaborators should decide (and put in writing) the order of authors on publications because this usually determines the extent of each person’s contribution to the work. As the project progresses, collaborators will also need to be clear about their part(s) in the work and what they are expected to do. Clarity is also particularly needed on such matters related to data ownership, data storage, research budgets, etc. Also, in such a spirit of openness and collegiality, researchers all need to have the opportunity to share their thoughts, ideas and suggestions at every stage of the research process.
- Demonstrate consideration. Let’s face it: we’re all very busy and that means someone may forget a deadline or be unable to complete an assigned task, but it is usually more helpful to be forgiving, readjust and move on rather than to embarrass or insult persons by laying down ‘rules of engagement’. However, if the collaborator’s behaviour has shown to be a habit, then a respectful discussion around how their non-action affects the team and project progress becomes necessary.
Generally, research collaborations are fun and you may emerge having gained long-term partnerships. While there may be some pitfalls, the benefits far outweigh them. Remember, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together” (African proverb).
Dr. Rinnelle Lee-Piggott is a Lecturer at the University of the West Indies (St. Augustine). Her research interests include school & principal leadership, school & system improvement & education privatization.
