Dimensions of scientific collaboration and its contribution to the academic research groups' scientific quality

Abstract

This article analyzes, under several dimensions, if collaboration contributes to the production of high quality scientific results. It examines the proportion of scientific quality (measured by impact and relevance) gained by ISI publications considering the presence of a particular form of collaboration. As an application case, this paper offers a micro-level analysis of the academic research groups (ARGs) of a technical university. Results indicate that there are positive and significant benefits in scientific quality, received by ARGs as product of the international and inter-sector collaboration, and in a broader sense, from the presence of the inter-institutional collaboration.

Research collaboration in groups and networks: differences across academic fields

“…However, the effects as measured in this study are not very strong. Nevertheless, these results corroborate previous findings by Abramo et al (2009) on the relationship between research collaboration and productivity, and by Andrade et al (2009) on the relationship between collaboration in international networks and research quality. Similar to Lazega et al (2008), we also find that group leaders appear to more productive than ordinary group members, particularly when they collaborate in international networks.…”

“…Communication and collaboration between team members, the role of the leader, research experience, and group size were identified as important factors to explain variation in group productivity. These factors have been examined in a large number of follow-up studies: Size and productivity (Cohen 1991; Seglen and Aksnes 2000; Guimerà et al 2005; Heinze et al 2009; Wheelan 2009; Kenna and Berche 2011; Maaike et al 2015), cooperation within groups (Andrade et al 2009), the role of the leader (Nagpaul and Gupta 1989; Hemlin 2006; Pudovkin et al 2012; Maaike et al 2015), and the groups’ importance for PhD-students (Meschitti and Carassa 2014). A review of the literature on research groups indicates that belonging to an established research group leads to higher scientific production (e.g.…”

The personal factors in scientific collaboration: views held by Slovenian researchers

“…One of the strongest individual motives for SC connected with the resourcebased view is the desire to obtain access to the expertise and competencies of others which provide complementarities in the research process. For example, two investigators -say, one particularly skilled in experimental design, the other in data analysis -should be able to produce a better scientific result than either one working alone (Bozeman et al 2013, Bermeo Andrade et al 2009. In modern science, the lone scientist is no longer able to tackle most larger scientific projects.…”

The establishment of formal research groups in higher education institutions

“…Through participation in a research group, a new member gains access to professional contacts and partners at other universities and in other countries. Studies have shown that small research teams often collaborate with other groups nationally and internationally, and that international cooperation increases the probability of publishing in recognised journals and achieving more citations (Andrade et al, 2009). Groups composed of individuals with various external partners will be more likely to draw on a comprehensive knowledge reservoir than teams made up of people with common background, and so be more likely to engage in creative research (Guimerà, Uzzi, Spiro, & Amaral, 2005).…”