| Faculty research collaboration is a phenomenon that has been quietly growing in popularity. There are indications that this trend will continue especially given the mounting competition for scarce resources and the increasing complexity and scale of the research problems faculty members now investigate. Although this model of scholarly research is widely practiced, we know relatively little about the process, the factors that influence it, and the outcomes. The term itself, "research collaboration," often causes misunderstanding and confusion, as it has multiple meanings.;This qualitative study uses an open systems conceptual framework to investigate, in-depth, eight research collaboration case studies---four in a disciplinary department and four in a professional school---in a public research university, within the larger context of a changing higher education environment.;The major findings from this study suggest that research collaborations can be described as process-oriented or results-oriented along a continuum according to: influences, size/scale, focus, and division of labor. The results further indicate that certain personal (e.g., commitment/investment), interpersonal (e.g., mutual trust and respect), and structural elements (e.g., research infrastructure) form the foundation upon which collaborative research is generally fostered and supported. A model for successful collaboration is also provided. Finally, the academy is urged to formally recognize the collaborative knowledge production model as being on par with the traditional sole investigator model of research. The implications for faculty members, for higher education administrators, and for future research on collaboration are discussed. |
