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

正如老年护理很复杂一样，与老年护理从业者之间的合作可以带来更好的结果 不同的专业，合作进行的研究可能会更具影响力。此外， 研究合作的多样性可以提高研究质量，但是老年病学之间的多样性 科学劳动力未能跟上人口迅速多样化的步伐。尽管数量激增 联盟，促进多样化的跨专业合作（IPC）网络仍然是一个重大障碍 提供者和研究人员等。虽然已经研究了增强护理中 IPC 的策略，但老龄化中的 IPC 研究，特别是在财团中，尚未进行过探索。本研究的目的是调查如何 通过识别参与 IPC 的障碍，最大限度地发挥联盟对老龄化研究价值的影响， 评估联盟成员资格对协作网络多样性的影响，并确定因素 促进有效和富有成效的合作。关于如何参与的信息有限 在一个联盟中影响协作行为的发展，以及有助于成功的因素 关系，或者如何克服群体内的偏袒，将更多不同的合作者聚集在一起。达到 衰老研究中多样性和 IPC 的增加我们需要更好地了解代表什么因素 研究界 IPC 的障碍以及如何增加内部不同研究人员的联系 财团。我建议使用三个联盟作为“实验室”来收集理解所需的形成性数据 有助于协作研究行为的个人和环境因素。我将表演一个混合- 方法研究结合纵向调查、访谈和社交网络分析 (SNA) 评估 IPC 多样性对研究生产力的影响，衡量研究人员协作网络的表现 随着时间的推移而发展，并制定干预措施以增加不同合作者之间的联系 在老龄化联盟中。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助指标衡量的老龄化研究生产力； (2) 考察个人如何 环境特征（包括 IPC 研究的感知障碍）会影响创建和 网络联系的生产力； (3) 使用算法开发多层次干预来连接不同的 联盟内的研究合作者。 该提案将加深对社区需求的了解，并产生可操作的见解 多样化并加强所产生的合作。通过提供老龄化研究、SNA、干预方面的经验 发展、组织行为、研究计划与职业高度互补 培养一名独立的老龄化研究人员，专注于制定干预措施以促进 IPC 和 提高老龄化研究和护理的质量。导师团队高素质、跨学科， 跨越老龄化、组织行为和相关科学方法领域。

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.