Advancing the Development of Collaborative Research Networks to Enhance Aging Research Value

正如老年护理是复杂的，从业者之间的合作会带来更好的结果 不同的专业，合作进行的研究可能会更有影响力。此外， 研究合作的多样性可以提高研究质量，而老年医学之间的多样性 科学劳动力没有跟上人口迅速多样化的步伐。尽管有大量的 促进多样化的专业间协作(IPC)网络仍然是 提供者和研究人员都是如此。虽然已经研究了加强护理中的IPC的策略，但老龄化中的IPC 研究，特别是在财团中的研究，还没有被探索。这项研究的目的是调查如何 通过确定参与IPC的障碍，最大限度地提高财团对老龄化研究价值的影响， 评估联盟成员对合作网络多样性的影响，并确定因素 促进有效和富有成效的协作。关于如何参与的信息有限 在联合体中影响合作行为的发展，这些因素有助于成功 或者如何克服团队内部的偏袒，从而将更多不同的合作者聚集在一起。要实现 在老龄化研究中增加多样性和IPC我们需要更多地了解哪些因素代表着 IPC在研究界的障碍以及如何增加内部不同研究人员的联系 财团。我建议使用三个财团作为“实验室”，收集必要的形成数据，以了解 影响合作研究行为的个人和环境因素。我会表演一个混合的- 方法采用纵向调查、访谈和社会网络分析(SNA)相结合的研究方法 评估IPC中的多样性对研究生产力的影响，衡量研究人员协作网络如何 随着时间的推移而发展，并制定一种干预措施，以增加不同合作者之间的联系 在年迈的财团中。我的具体目标是：(1)确定社交网络连接的特征 影响通过出版物和资金指标衡量的老龄化研究生产率；(2)检查个人如何 以及环境特征，包括对IPC研究的感知障碍，影响着创造和 网络联系的生产力；以及(3)使用算法开发多层次的干预，以连接不同的 财团内部的研究合作者。 这项建议将提供对社区需求的更多了解，并产生可操作的见解，以 使所产生的合作多样化并加强合作。通过提供老龄化研究、SNA、干预方面的经验 发展和组织行为，研究计划对职业生涯有很强的互补性 发展一名独立的老龄研究人员，重点是制定干预措施，以促进IPC和 提高老龄研究和护理质量。导师团队是一支高素质、多学科的团队， 跨越老龄化、组织行为学和相关科学方法的领域。

Just as geriatric care is complex, with better outcomes associated with collaboration among practitioners of differing specialties, research is likely to be more impactful when performed collaboratively. Furthermore, diversity in research collaboration can increase research quality, however diversity among the geriatrics scientific workforce has not kept pace with a rapidly diversifying population. In spite of a proliferation of consortia, fostering diverse interprofessional collaboration (IPC) networks remains a significant barrier for providers and researchers alike. While strategies to enhance IPC in care have been investigated, IPC in aging research, and specifically in consortia, has not been explored. The objective of this study is to investigate how to maximize the impact of consortia on aging research value by identifying barriers to engagement in IPC, assessing the effect of consortium membership on diversity in collaborative networks, and determining factors contributing to effective and productive collaborations. There is limited information regarding how participation in a consortium influences development of collaborative behaviors, factors that contribute to successful connections, or how to overcome in-group favoritism to bring together more diverse collaborators. To achieve increased diversity and IPC in aging research we need a greater understanding of what factors represent barriers to IPC in the research community and how to increase connection of diverse researchers within consortia. I propose using three consortia as a “laboratory” to collect formative data necessary to understand individual and environmental factors that contribute to collaborative research behaviors. I will perform a mixed- methods study using a combination of longitudinal surveys, interviews, and social network analysis (SNA) to assess the impact of diversity in IPC on research productivity, measure how researcher collaborative networks are developed over time, and develop an intervention to increase the connection between diverse collaborators in aging consortia. I specifically aim to: (1) Determine the characteristics of social network connections that affect aging research productivity as measured by publication and funding metrics; (2) Examine how individual and environmental characteristics including perceived barriers to IPC research influence the creation and productivity of network ties; and (3) Develop a multilevel intervention using an algorithm to connect diverse research collaborators within consortia. This proposal will provide greater understanding of community needs and produce actionable insights to diversify and strengthen collaborations produced. By providing experience in aging research, SNA, intervention development, and organizational behavior, the research plan is highly complementary to the career development of an independent aging researcher focused on developing interventions to promote IPC and improve the quality of aging research and care. The team of mentors is highly qualified and multidisciplinary, spanning domains of aging, organizational behavior, and relevant scientific methods.