Solidarity through collaborative research

Abstract

While numerous publications signal the merits of collaborative research, few studies provide interpretive analyses of collaborative-research practices or collaborative relationships. Through this multiple case study design of collaborative-research teams, we attempt to provide such an analysis by focusing on the collaborativeresearch experiences of seven qualitative researchers from two contrasting research teams in Australia and North America. We highlight how solidarity emerged from successful interactions between interdependent members, and these were both professionally and personally rewarding for individuals and the teams. As well, we identify the opportunities for solidarity afforded to researchers from vertical collaborations (i.e. collaborations involving differential status between team members) that featured evolving and transforming mentoring relationships through the history of the research projects. We propose that solidarity can be stratified within large research teams through sub-units like dyads. Finally, we suggest that collaborating researchers might benefit from reviewing case studies of collaborative relationships, and engaging in mutual interrogation and subsequent individual reflections of their articulated collaborative practices and relationships.

Digital media, technologies and scholarship: Some shapes of eResearch in educational inquiry

“…For example, recent astronomical discoveries about the rotation of galaxies have been made by a network of children, teachers and other lay explorers, who collaboratively over a one year period produced more than 50 million classifications of a million galaxies that later have been only summarised by professional scientists (Lintott et al, 2008). Similarly, in education, research planning and, particularly, data analysis and interpretation that have been rather exclusive areas of monologic academic work have become increasingly a collaborative practice (Armstrong et al, 2005;Carmichael, 2007;Laterza, Carmichael, & Procter, 2007;Pea, Lindgren, & Rosen, 2008;Ritchie & Rigano, 2007). Collaborative research platforms and data analysis tools, such as distributed video analysis, provide possibilities to involve participants and other stakeholders in different research stages (Carmichael, 2007;Pea et al, 2008) 12 .…”

Exploring the nature of the researcher–practitioner relationship in qualitative educational research publications

“…As yet there seems to be little awareness of building on each other's differences and strengths. This is in direct contrast with collaboration literature that acknowledges complementary collaboration as being the most practical form of collaboration (Ritchie and Rigano 2007). As the name suggests, complementary collaboration is characterized by a division of labor in terms of skills, effort, and roles.…”

“…Collaborative research projects have been on the rise (Ritchie and Rigano 2007). However, most literature on collaboration is about collaboration among researchers.…”

Almost Drowning: Data as a Troubling Anchor in an Arts/Social Science Collaboration

“…In sum, it is our hope that by exposing our conflicts and divergent understandings in both abstract and concrete ways, we add to the small but growing literature examining complicated backstage processes of collaboration among qualitative researchers in the same discipline (e.g., Ritchie & Rigano, 2007;Woods, Boyle, Jeffery, & Troman, 2000), among interdisciplinary teams (e.g., Nancarrow et al, 2013), and within transdisciplinary work (e.g., Bagley, 2008). As with all projects involving multiple scholars and artists, and especially with transdisciplinary projects, we continue to expect to encounter challenges as we embark on an extension of the project.…”