Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration as a Community of Practice

Abstract

We present an ongoing research project, which takes a qualitative approach using in-depth interview methodology to explore interdisciplinary scientific collaboration activities at a computation and technology research center. The purpose of this research is to understand how a team of scientists and engineers use physical artifacts and social practices to collaborate. We attempt to identify communities of practice that were involved in those scientific collaborations; specific social practices that both scientists and engineers developed and engaged in, as well as those shared artifacts that were used to facilitate interaction among inter- and intra-group members.