Strengthening Collaborative Research Practices in Academia: Factors, Challenges, and Strategies

Abstract

This mixed-method research sought to identify the factors, challenges and strategies that enable and strengthen collaborative research practice in academia. Participants of the study are purposively chosen, self-selected faculty and students from an external campus and a unit in the main campus of a state university in Bulacan, Philippines, who have successfully completed collaborative research writing projects, presented collaborative research projects in conferences and symposia, or published said collaborative research projects. Data were gathered using a researcher developed instrument, validated, and checked for reliability. Analysis of results using principal components analysis led to the development of the DRREAM (Diversity, Role assignment, Relationship-building and peer interdependence, Ergonomic, flexible and adaptable processes, Acquisition of knowledge, skills and expertise, Motivation consideration) model, a conceptual framework on factors that strengthen effectual collaborative research writing; while the use of thematic analysis enabled the formulation of IPP (Individual, Professional and Personal) model, a conceptual framework on strategies to overcome challenges faced by collaborators in a collaboration research project. Finally, an Action Plan Framework for Effectual Collaborative Research Writing is proposed to promote the culture of collaborative research practices among the members of the academia. Keywords: collaborative research writing, research collaboration factors, research collaboration challenges and strategies, research culture in academia

Strengthening Research Pedagogy: Student’s Online Research Experiences, Challenges, and Effective Teaching Strategies

“…With the social and interactive nature of SOL, student inquiries and concerns are directly and immediately addressed, and engagement with lesson contents and learning materials is done in real time (Hrastinski, 2008). Although there is limited literature on online research learning practices and pedagogy, it is highly valued and necessary in upgrading the research capacity of higher education institutions (Durante, 2022). Moreover, in an online research learning environment, literature has shown that learners become more flexible and are able to overcome logistic and physical barriers so that they can participate in research collaborations anytime and anywhere (Collins et.…”

“…al., 2022;Chin 2020). Factors that contribute to the effectiveness of online collaborative research learning experience include: (1) recognizing the diversity of values, experiences, and personalities of collaborators, (2) assigning roles of members of the collaboration team, (3) how the members build relationships and their interdependence with each other, (4) how ergonomic, flexible, and adaptable the processes used by the groups are, (5) how the members of the group learn knowledge, skills, and expertise, and ( 6) what motivates the members of the research team (Durante, 2022).…”