Assessing collaboration among team scientists within a triadic research center partnership

Linda S Behar-Horenstein; Joyce M Richey; Ukamaka Diké Smith

doi:10.4081/qrmh.2021.9724

Assessing collaboration among team scientists within a triadic research center partnership

Qual Res Med Healthc. 2021 Oct 5;5(2):9724. doi: 10.4081/qrmh.2021.9724.

Authors

Linda S Behar-Horenstein¹, Joyce M Richey², Ukamaka Diké Smith³

Affiliations

¹ School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
² Department of Clinical Physiology and Neuroscience, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
³ Department of Pharmacy Practice, Florida Agricultural and Mining University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.

Abstract

Few studies have utilized qualitative methods to assess the perceived effectiveness of collaboration among research center interdisciplinary team scientists. Stages of team development served as the theoretical framework to characterize minority serving institution (MSI) and predominantly White institutions (PWI) participants' challenges and successes during a National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored cancer health disparities training and research program. We present the finding of an inductive analysis of four open-ended survey questions across two years. Fostering an awareness of the inherently taxing, yet centrality of group (team) development may advance an understanding of team dynamics and lead to increased team cohesion and productivity. In conclusion, we provide recommendations to assist multiple principal investigators who embark on team development.

Keywords: Interdisciplinary research teams; MSI-PWI partnerships; cancer health disparities training and research; collaboration; evaluation; inductive analysis; team development; team science.

Grants and funding

Funding: Research reported in this publication was supported by the NIH/ National Cancer Institute Awards U54CA233444, U54CA233465, and U54CA233396. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Availability of data and materials: Not applicable.