How do you work with others in research?

Collaborating among diverse individuals enriches the perspectives pertaining to the project. Findings as early as Paolo Friere's show that we need to begin with those most effected by the research. The first step in anti-bias research is listening. It is only by gaining this perspective that we can come to helpful strategies.

Collaboration on creating ideas, or on innovation? The literature is clear that creative ideas are almost always best done solo. But pulling these into an "innovative offering" requires evaluation, risk reduction, and improvement from many perspectives. The genius of the Beatles creativity started with the 4 lads, and especially the Lennon-McCartney partnership. But to get great recordings -- the final offerings -- took many people, far beyond just the 4 + George Martin + Brian Epstein and others.

As much as collaboration may have challenges it's also very good for research to have others and their views, perspectives, knowledge, expertise among others. It brings credibility and diversity to it. Collaboration in the present age shouldn't be much of a border due to technology and modern communication tools. It's easier and better to have people from multi cultural background for acceptability of findings and results. After all, researches are to add to knowledge and for sharing as well as for the advancement of humanity.

Collaboration takes at least three forms. One form is what I would call "contractual collaboration". Everyone agrees on who is doing what, and then delivers on that. Then everything gets stitched together in some hopefully useful way. The other I call "start up collaboration" where everyone jumps in and does what's needed in the moment based on their skill and commitment. Not equitable, not sustainable, but useful for urgent, short term, ill-defined work. The third is a collaboration based on intellectual humility. In this format, people create a melding of ideas, not tasks. This is often a very long term process. Each needs its own approach. Each takes different skills.

I think this description is more than a tad formalistic. For the first time, I am co-authoring a book with a colleague. I have co-authored articles but never a whole book. I would say communication is key, and not just about the book. Understanding each other’s lives matters. Understanding each other’s hobbies matters. If you want a book with a shared voice, then the voices have to speak together. I am not talking about boundary crossing; I am talking about true communication — with openness and grace and respect. Two people from different disciplines need ways to share their respective voices and that comes from knowing each other’s thoughts, approaches and values.

A key element of working in collaboration is to define and separate the team's goal and objectives from those of the contributing team members. If each team member is working towards their own research goals, even if seemingly just a little different, they may end up diverging from each other. Defining the goals and the respective targets of a full collaboration is key to success. Collaboration is different from research crossover where people may support each other without the expectations of collaborative work and support.