Student-Faculty Collaborative Research

This article presents guidelines to assist in student-faculty collaborative research. The guidelines were developed from a review of the literature on the topic and a survey of family studies departmental policies and those policies used by 32 highly published family scholars around the country. The guidelines provide a framework for faculty and students who are negotiating individualized contracts for collaborative research. Student-faculty collaborative research promotes the professional development of both graduate students and faculty. Collaborative research allows students to learn one-on-one from faculty about research and publication, providing an invaluable supplement to classroom learning. Collaboration provides faculty with a rich source of labor and new ideas during the time-consuming research process. In addition, publications generated from collaborative research can lead to career advancement for both students and faculty. According to Diener and Crandall (1978), published work increases one's chance of being admitted to graduate school, getting a job, and receiving tenure, promotions, and salary increases.