Examination of processes that contributed to the success of a research partnership in Canada through three key moments in its development

Saint-Jacques M, Robitaille C, Saint-Amand A, Turcotte D. Examination of processes that contributed to the success of a research partnership in Canada through three key moments in its development. Oral presentation at 2017 SciTS Conference. Clearwater Beach, FL. Jun 13, 2017. International, Large-Scale Distributed Teams. Online at: http://www.scienceofteamscience.org/2017-agenda.

Based on our experience establishing and managing a large, interdisciplinary research partnership—“Team Science”—dedicated to parental separation and stepfamilies, this presentation highlights the processes that facilitated this undertaking, as well as those that hindered it. These processes, brought to light by our assessments, will be examined with emphasis on three key moments in our team’s development: its origin, its implementation and its continuation over time. Starting in 2008, the analysis that led to establishing this team helped to create a consensus regarding the themes and issues to prioritize. It also led to the development of a participatory research strategy promoting action and the co-creation of knowledge, a major undercurrent in the world of research (Gibbons et al., 1994). This way of working, combined with a research context in Quebec and Canada that favours research partnership with community organizations and a strong commitment by partners, is seen as having fostered development of this project. Partner organizations are asked to participate in intellectual leadership and to provide expertise. Moreover, if seeking a balance between critical distance and physical proximity (Lapointe, 2008) is essential, it includes challenges that can hinder the smooth operation of a partnership. In our case, establishing procedures for research production, governance and mobilization of knowledge that allow members to learn to work together and develop a shared vision of the situation of these families helped to overcome this challenge. The presentation will also outline strategies used to foster evolution of the team over time. Continuation of winning strategies, combined with the creation of a project of a different nature supported by all, seem to have contributed to this transition.