Abstract
We use the notion of emergence to consider the sorts of knowledge that can be produced in a collaborative research project. The notion invites us to see collaborative work as a developmental dynamic system in which various changes constantly occur. Among these we examine two sorts of knowledge that can be produced: scientific knowledge, and collaborative knowledge. We argue that collaborative knowledge can enable researchers to reflectively monitor their collaborative project, so as to encourage its most productive changes. On the basis of examples taken from this special issue, we highlight four modes of producing collaborative knowledge and discuss the possible uses of such knowledge.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Of course it can be accompanied by other goals, such as to increase international cooperation; constitute a database for further studies; offer training sites for young researchers; develop marketable objects or procedures; legitimate an institution, etc.
References
Arcidiacono, F. (2007). Studying the practice of cooperation and collaboration within an international research project on the everyday lives of families. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, doi:10.1007/s12124-007-9016-9.
Baucal, A. (2007). Reflective social-cultural psychology: Lost and found in collaboration with funding agencies and ICT experts. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, doi:10.1007/s12124-007-9018-7.
Boulding, K. E. (1956). General systems theory—The skeleton of science. Management Science, 283, 197–208.
Cilliers, P. (1998). Complexity and postmodernism. London: Routledge.
Cornish, F., Zittoun, T., & Gillespie, A. (2007). A cultural psychological reflection on collaborative research. Conference Essay: ESF Exploratory Workshop on Collaborative Case Studies for a European Cultural Psychology. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung/Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 8(3), Art. 21, http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs-texte/3-07/07-3-21-e.htm.
Elder-Vass, D. (2007). For emergence: Refining Archer’s account of social structure. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 37(1), 25–44.
Engeström, Y. (2005). Developmental work research: Expanding activity theory in practice. Berlin: Lehmanns Media.
Epstein, J. M., & Axtell, R. (1996). Growing artificial societies. Washington: The Brookings Institution.
Fogel, A. (2006). Dynamic systems research in interindividual communication: The transformation of meaning-making. Journal of Developmental Processes, 1, 7–28.
Gillespie, A., Zittoun, T., & Cornish, F. (2006). Collaborative Case Studies for a European cultural psychology. European Science Foundation Exploratory Workshop, Scientific Report. Available on line at http://www.esf.org/generic/2428/05333Report.pdf.
Ivić, I. (1994). Lav S. Vygotsky. Prospects, 24(3/4), 471–485.
Kim, J. (2006). Trois essais sur l’émergence. Paris: Ithaque.
Latour, B. (1987). Science in Action: How to follow scientists and engineers through society. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Marková, I., & Plichtová, J. (2007). East-West European project: Transforming and shaping research through collaboration. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, doi:10.1007/s12124-007-9014-y.
Mead, G. H. (1932). The philosophy of the present. London: The Open Court Company. Available online at: http://www.archive.org/details/philosophyofthep032111mbp.
Mondada, L. (2000). La construction du savoir dans les discussions scientifiques. Apports de la linguistique interactionnelle et de l’analyse conversationnelle à la sociologie des sciences. Revue Suisse de Sociologie, 26(3), 615–636.
Nelson, K. (2007). Young minds in social worlds. Experience, meaning, and memory. Cambridge, MA/London: Harvard University Press.
Perret-Clermont, A. N. (1979/2000). La construction de l'intelligence dans l'interaction sociale (5th ed.). Bern: Peter Lang.
Piaget, J. (1936/1953). The origins of intelligence in children. London: Routledge.
Pontecorvo, C. (2007). On the conditions for generative collaboration: Learning through collaborative research. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, doi:10.1007/s12124-007-9017-8.
Tartas, V., & Muller Mirza, N. (2007). Rethinking collaborative learning through participation in an interdisciplinary research project: Tensions and negotiations as key-points in knowledge production. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, doi:10.1007/s12124-007-9019-6.
Valsiner, J. (2000). Culture and human development. London: Sage.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1934/1986). Thought and language (A. Kozulin, trans.). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zittoun, T., Baucal, A., Cornish, F. et al. Collaborative Research, Knowledge and Emergence. Integr. psych. behav. 41, 208–217 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-007-9021-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-007-9021-z