Finding Collaboration Partners in a Scientific Community: The Role of Cognitive Group Awareness, Career Level, and Disciplinary Background

Julia Eberle, Karsten Stegmann, Frank Fischer, Alain Barrat, Kristine Lund, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), Philadelphia, USA, June 18-22, 2017, p. 519-526 (2017)

Integrating newcomers and fostering collaboration between researchers with
different disciplinary backgrounds is a challenge for scientific communities. Prior research
suggests that both network-driven selection patterns (reciprocity and transitivity) and the
active selection of specific others are important. Selecting appropriate collaboration partners
may moreover require what we call cognitive group awareness, (i.e. knowledge about the
knowledge of others). In a field study at two multi-disciplinary scientific events (Alpine
Rendez-Vous 2011 and 2013) including N=287 researchers, we investigated selection
patterns, looking specifically at career level and disciplinary background, and included a
cognitive group awareness intervention. While we could not completely explain how
researchers choose with whom they interact, we found that transitivity and interaction
duration are relevant for later collaboration. Cognitive group awareness support was beneficial
for fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Career level was a less relevant factor. We
discuss measures for supporting newcomer integration and community buildings based on our
findings.

PDF: http://www.cpt.univ-mrs.fr/~barrat/Eberle-Full-CSCL2017.pdf