Research Team / Collaborations

It may be worthwhile considering entering into collaborative research relationships. This involves building relationships and partnerships with other individuals or organisations that may be able to assist you to complete the research.

It is not always necessary to enter into collaborative research, although there are many benefits to doing so. Possible reasons for collaboration are:

• Size of the research project. If the project is too large for one individual or research team to be able to complete in a reasonable time, collaborating with others will enable the workload to be shared.
• Skills and Resources. If the project requires additional skills or resources beyond those at your disposal, you may need to enrol other individuals and/or organisations on to your research to be able to provide that skill or resource that may be needed.
• Broadening scope and perspectives. By enrolling others into your research project you enable more voices and perspectives to shape your research.
• Teaching/Learning. By involving other people in your research whether they be more or less skilled in certain aspects of research allows for the transference of knowledge regarding the research process. It may be that you will learn from a more experienced researcher, or you will assist in the training of other researchers.

When entering into Māori research it is important that you know your role in the whānau, the community and wider context of the research. It is also important that you understand both your strengths and weaknesses as a researcher to be able to carry out the proposed research.