Pragmatism and self-organization - Research collaboration on the individual level

What goes on in the scientific networks and the research teams? What is the collaborative situation like? Why do scientists collaborate? This study fo cuses on the micro level of research collaboration and investigates the rea sons for and effects of collaboration for the individual scientist through a survey and a number of interviews. The interaction within the research te am is highlighted, showing the feelings and conditions which encompass the teamwork. The empirical findings are conceptualized in a model where resear ch collaboration is suggested to be understood as dependent on how the reas ons, forms and effects respectively vary. The collaborations are characteri zed by strong pragmatism and a high degree of self-organization. Finally, t he science policy implications of this study are discussed. It is suggested that research policy should provide financial and organizational possibili ties for the researchers to establish joint ventures and also fund projects on a team or network basis. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.