Solidarity through collaborative research

While numerous publications signal the merits of collaborative research, few studies provide interpretive analyses of collaborative-research practices or collaborative relationships. Through this multiple case study design of collaborative-research teams, we attempt to provide such an analysis by focusing on the collaborative-research experiences of seven qualitative researchers from two contrasting research teams in Australia and North America. We highlight how solidarity emerged from successful interactions between interdependent members, and these were both professionally and personally rewarding for individuals and the teams. As well, we identify the opportunities for solidarity afforded to researchers from vertical collaborations (i.e. collaborations involving differential status between team members) that featured evolving and transforming mentoring relationships through the history of the research projects. We propose that solidarity can be stratified within large research teams through sub-units like dyads. Finally, we suggest that collaborating researchers might benefit from reviewing case studies of collaborative relationships, and engaging in mutual interrogation and subsequent individual reflections of their articulated collaborative practices and relationships.