Understanding Collaborative Interactions in Relation to Research Impact in Social Sciences and Humanities: A Meta-Ethnography

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Understanding Collaborative Interactions in Relation to Research Impact in Social Sciences and Humanities: A Meta-Ethnography
Language: English
Authors: Dewaele, Alexis (ORCID 0000-0002-0688-9109), Vandael, Kristof, Meysman, Stefan, Buysse, Ann
Source: Research Evaluation. Apr 2021 30(2):179-190.
Availability: Oxford University Press. Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, UK. Tel: +44-1865-353907; Fax: +44-1865-353485; e-mail: jnls.cust.serv@oxfordjournals.org; Web site: http://applij.oxfordjournals.org/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2021
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Interaction, Social Science Research, Humanities, Researchers, Stakeholders, Institutional Cooperation, Context Effect
DOI: 10.1093/reseval/rvaa033
ISSN: 0958-2029
Abstract: The number and type of collaborations between researchers and stakeholders has increased significantly. This responds to the demand from policymakers, funders, and citizens that researchers should help to tackle important social issues (e.g. climate change, healthy aging). However, there is little knowledge about how collaboration processes are experienced, how we can theoretically conceptualize them, and how in this way we can develop efficient collaboration methods that contribute to solving urgent societal problems. In this meta-ethnography, we gathered relevant knowledge from carefully selected qualitative studies. A title/abstract analysis of 3422 articles from Web of Science and ProQuest led to the interpretative analysis of qualitative data from eight publications. The results of this study show that despite the need for a better understanding of complex collaborative interactions, the differences (or asymmetry) between organizations to which various partners belong hinder efficient collaboration. Bridging figures (brokers) can play an essential role if they succeed in drawing diverse stakeholders out of their organizational context into a new dimension that allows creativity and mutual understanding, but that also allows conflict and distortion. In ideal circumstances, this leads to a quasi-automatic transfer of knowledge between partners that takes place naturally and in both directions (knowledge diffusion).
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2021
Accession Number: EJ1314509
Database: ERIC
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Abstract:The number and type of collaborations between researchers and stakeholders has increased significantly. This responds to the demand from policymakers, funders, and citizens that researchers should help to tackle important social issues (e.g. climate change, healthy aging). However, there is little knowledge about how collaboration processes are experienced, how we can theoretically conceptualize them, and how in this way we can develop efficient collaboration methods that contribute to solving urgent societal problems. In this meta-ethnography, we gathered relevant knowledge from carefully selected qualitative studies. A title/abstract analysis of 3422 articles from Web of Science and ProQuest led to the interpretative analysis of qualitative data from eight publications. The results of this study show that despite the need for a better understanding of complex collaborative interactions, the differences (or asymmetry) between organizations to which various partners belong hinder efficient collaboration. Bridging figures (brokers) can play an essential role if they succeed in drawing diverse stakeholders out of their organizational context into a new dimension that allows creativity and mutual understanding, but that also allows conflict and distortion. In ideal circumstances, this leads to a quasi-automatic transfer of knowledge between partners that takes place naturally and in both directions (knowledge diffusion).
ISSN:0958-2029
DOI:10.1093/reseval/rvaa033