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Motivations for disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration among australian social scientists
2012
Attention is increasingly directed toward better understanding the factors driving collaboration among researchers, particularly collaboration between researches from different disciplinary backgrounds. Previous research suggests that factors such as previous employment in industry, gender and academic rank may be linked to different collaboration strategies among academic researchers. These studies have predominantly focussed on researchers in the natural and physical sciences (Bozeman & Corley 2004; Lee & Bozeman 2005; Bozeman & Gaughan 2011). This study investigates the motivations of researchers to engage in disciplinary and interdisciplinary research collaboration in the social sciences. Drawing on data from a survey of 698 researchers working in Australia, we consider researchers´ different strategies for collaboration. We analyse whether different strategies are linked to higher involvement in either disciplinary or interdisciplinary collaborations. We also analyse whether different collaboration strategies are linked to an orientation toward either basic or applied research. The paper discusses the findings in relation to policy settings in the Australia research context, particularly incentives and support measures for interdisciplinarity in the social sciences. It goes on to consider the utility of the current findings for policy makers, critically highlighting the tendency for policy-driven research to assume that 'more collaboration' is a desirable.
EXPLORING CHALLENGES OF TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH: AN AUSTRALIAN CASE STUDY
If multidisciplinary research is described as ‘additive’ and interdisciplinary work as ‘interactive’, then a trans-disciplinary project might be best characterized as ‘holistic’. The $10 million Australian research program Securing Australia’s Future (SAF), runs from 2012 to 2016. The aim of the SAF program is to develop evidence-based findings to support public policy-making. The program includes a number of projects that are clearly interdisciplinary in nature. In each case, the research makes use of a conceptual model to link theoretical frameworks from several disciplines. This approach has already been usefully applied across studies as diverse as scientific and cultural diplomacy; economic competitiveness; and shale gas production. One of the latest studies in the SAF program is concerned with sustainable urban mobility. In this case, it might be said that the aim is more than interdisciplinary. The ambition is to develop new conceptual structures beyond discipline-specific views. In other words, the study aims to be transdisciplinary. The paper describes the unfolding plan for delivering such a trans-disciplinary study; identifies critical components of an holistic approach; and proposes methods for evaluating the relative success of the project.
Institutionalising interdisciplinary work in Australia and the UK
2008
This study adopted qualitative, activity-based strategy as practice method to investigate leadership and management of interdisciplinary work. Interviews were conducted with ten academics in Australia and the UK. Challenges that leaders of academic work spoke of can be grouped at various levels in which problems arise. First, faculty in both countries spoke of the influence of national policy context on facilitating and impeding interdisciplinary research, particularly how interdisciplinary research is quantified under assessment schemes. At the institutional level, policies related to promotion and tenure greatly affected researchers' attitude towards interdisciplinary research, particularly for junior academics. Third, leaders at the department level and in research centres had a significant influence in the ability to create management structures to foster and promote interdisciplinary research. This study provides indicators of effective practices, suggests a number of key institutional challenges and proposes a future research agenda.
Research has been conducted into the special nature of interdisciplinary academic work per se and towards resolving the particular difficulties faced by interdisciplinary researchers. Some of the findings of two recent Australian studies into ways to strengthen interdisciplinary research are reported here. In 2012, the Chief Scientist of Australia commissioned ACOLA to undertake a three-year, $10 million program of research under the title Securing Australia's Future. The program involves Fellows of the four Australian Learned Academies and embraces issues as diverse as underground engineering for the exploitation of shale gas deposits; how to maximize the translation of innovation and research into productivity; and a critique of the country's engagement with the Asia-Pacific region. The requirement to deliver at Cabinet level interdisciplinary evidence-based policy options for government, suggests that public policy experience in dealing with " wicked problems " has insights to offer those engaged in interdisciplinary academic research. An emerging group of trans-disciplinary project managers may help interdisciplinary research projects to flourish.
The ‘paradox of interdisciplinarity’ in Australian research governance
Higher Education, 2013
disciplinary, (3) intersectoral, (4) innovative, (5) impactful and (6) inclusive. 2. Secondly, to analyse key aspects of the practical implementation of the model at a higher education institution: in this case the University of Deusto 2. By analysing process indicators and outcomes, this paper focuses on a. the evolution of the implementation of the "6i Research Model" over the last decade and how it has been sustained in practice; b. the results produced; and c. the changes which the institution has undergone to accommodate and support the evolving model. Focusing on the implementation of the "6i Research Model" model at the University of Deusto, the second part will respond to the following research questions: 1. How did the "6i Research Model" evolve over time and how has it been sustained? 2. What kind of impact on institutional change did the model involve in terms of structures and resources, mechanisms, initiatives and outputs? and 3. Is Deusto steadily evolving into a research ecosystem for impactful research excellence, while adopting the "6i Research Model"? Based on lessons learned, we will draw some conclusions for future applications and scaling up the model to other higher education institutions. A MULTIFACETED MODEL Building collaborative inter-and trans-disciplinary communities requires deep reflection and a clear, well-planned strategy.