Collaborative Research

Collaborative research is one of the nine core areas of RCR instruction that deals with issues investigators should be aware of to conduct research responsibly. Collaborative research overlaps with many of the other core areas of RCR instruction since instruction in the responsible conduct of research is integral to all research endeavors.

The purpose of this online module is to expand researchers' awareness of collaborative research issues through this brief introduction. The module is intended for self-paced learning especially by those in the early stages of their research careers in order to better ensure the quality of research.

This module is organized under the eight topic areas listed below. Click on the 'Topics' option on the top navigation bar to access each topic in this module.

• Overview
• Need for Collaboration 
• Types and Format
• Stages of Collaboration
• Establishing the Relationship
• Working Together
• Identifying/Resolving Challenges
• Concluding or Continuing

The module may take anywhere between three to five hours to go through the content and the activities fully, depending on one's background, web navigation skills, and the type of access to the web. Some activities may require downloading freely available plug-ins or players.

The module content was compiled from existing literature and through interviews with faculty researchers at Northern Illinois University . Along with the content, quizzes, and games, simulation activities have been included to engage users in the module. But the content and the activities included in the module are by no means comprehensive or conclusive, and are meant only to provide a basic overview of collaborative research related issues which may impact the quality of research. The type and number of activities included in each topic may vary depending on the scope of the topic.