Developing the capacity of researchers for collaborative working

Kahn, Peter, Petichakis, Christos ORCID: 0000-0002-0882-0367 and Walsh, Lorraine (2012) Developing the capacity of researchers for collaborative working International Journal for Researcher Development, 3 (1). pp. 49-63. ISSN 2048-8696

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Abstract

Purpose The complexities and challenges inherent in research often require collaborative rather than solitary or team‐based forms of working. This paper seeks to open new perspectives onto the nature of collaborative research and onto strategies for developing the capacity of researchers to engage in it. Design/methodology/approach The paper outlines a speculative model of collaborative working in higher education that is rooted in critical realist perspectives, using it to ground a conceptual analysis of a stage model of expertise for collaborative working taken from the researcher development framework (RDF) developed in the UK by the organisation Vitae. Findings The paper highlights the contribution that theory can make to the practice of researcher development, drawing out the relevance of personal engagement, professional dialogue and collaborative vehicles to support shared practice in pursuit of mutual goals. In this way, it identifies gaps within the stage model that pertain to relational, disciplinary, situational and other elements. The paper articulates insights for the development of the capacity of researchers for collaborative working that prioritise dialogue that is situated within given contexts for research. The analysis draws out implications for the development of collaborative capacity of such notions as corporate agency and collaborative reach. Originality/value This paper articulates a novel approach to conceptualising capacity for collaborative research and offers a theoretical critique of a given descriptor taken from Vitae's RDF. As such it assists in developing the scholarly basis for the field of researcher development.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	## TULIP Type: Articles/Papers (Journal) ##
Uncontrolled Keywords:	3903 Education Systems, 39 Education
Subjects:	?? LB2300 ??
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Tech, Infrastructure & Env Directorate
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	28 Nov 2013 16:17
Last Modified:	22 May 2026 23:16
DOI:	10.1108/17597511211278643
Publisher's Statement :	This article is © Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here (http://research-archive.liv.ac.uk/). Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/ distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
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URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/14535
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