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

正如老年护理是复杂的，更好的结果与医生之间的合作有关， 不同的专业，研究可能会更有影响力时，合作进行。此外，委员会认为， 研究合作的多样性可以提高研究质量，然而， 科学工作者没有跟上人口迅速多样化的步伐。尽管有大量的 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， 供应商和研究人员一样。虽然已经研究了在护理中增强IPC的策略，但在衰老中的IPC 研究，特别是在财团中，尚未进行探索。本研究的目的是探讨如何 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合作。关于如何参与的信息有限， 在一个财团的影响发展的合作行为，因素，有助于成功 联系，或如何克服群体内的偏袒，以汇集更多不同的合作者。实现 在老龄化研究中，我们需要更好地了解哪些因素代表了 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”，收集必要的形成性数据， 个人和环境因素，有助于合作研究行为。我要表演一个混合- 方法研究使用纵向调查，访谈和社会网络分析（SNA）相结合， 评估IPC多样性对研究生产力的影响，衡量研究人员合作网络如何 随着时间的推移而发展，并开发干预措施以增加不同合作者之间的联系 在老龄化财团中。我的具体目标是：（1）确定社会网络连接的特征， 影响老龄化研究生产力的出版物和资金指标衡量;（2）检查个人如何 和环境特征，包括对IPC研究的感知障碍， 网络关系的生产力;以及（3）使用算法开发多层次干预，以连接不同的 财团内的研究合作者。 这项建议将使人们更好地了解社区的需要，并提出可行的见解， 多样化和加强合作。通过提供老龄化研究、SNA、干预方面的经验， 发展，组织行为，研究计划是高度互补的职业生涯 发展一个独立的老龄化研究人员，专注于开发干预措施，以促进IPC， 提高老龄化研究和护理的质量。导师团队是高素质和多学科的， 跨越老龄化、组织行为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.