Team Science
MSCI 307
Winter 2014
Wednesdays, January 8, 2014 – February 5, 2014; 6:00-9:00PM
750 N. Lakeshore Drive, 11th Floor, Lakeview Conference Room, Chicago Campus
0.5 Credit Course
Instructors: (office hours by appointment)
Bonnie Spring, Ph.D.
Fruma Yehiely, Ph.D.
Director, NUCATS Team Science
Director, Office of Research Development
Professor of Preventive Medicine
Office for Research, NUCATS, Department of Preventive Medicine
680 N. Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1400
750 N. Lake Shore Drive, Rubloff, Room 705
Chicago, IL. 60614
Chicago, IL 60611
312-908-2293
312-503-4134
bspring@northwestern.edu
yehiely@northwestern.edu
Course Description: Solving complex societal problems (eg., global warming, poverty, cancer, health
care) requires the integration of specialized knowledge bases. However, as the volume of scientific
knowledge has increased over time, it has become increasingly difficult for any single individual to have
deep expertise in all needed areas of science. Addressing today’s complex problems requires the high
degree of cross-disciplinary collaboration, referred to as “Team Science”. This course offers practical
guidance about how best to engage in team science to: pursue complex science questions, work
effectively with team members, and produce high impact research outcomes that help meet society’s
needs.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this course students will be able to:
 Describe changes in scientific authorship patterns that have occurred in the past 50 years
 Differentiate between multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research
 Describe factors to consider when deciding whether join an interdisciplinary research team
 Discuss factors to consider and steps to take when evaluating others as potential collaborators
 Demonstrate an understanding of how meta-cognitive processes are important for team
functioning
 Analyze the role of conflict in the life cycle of a scientific team
 Formulate a plan to evaluate a scientific team
 Describe factors that contribute to the success of a scientific team
Course Format and Outline: Homework for each class will consist of completion of an online learning
module including pre- and post-tests, readings, and/or written assignments. Written assignments will
include completion of a collaboration readiness self-assessment, submission of questions to ask the
successful NUCATS leadership team, and a proposed evaluation strategy to evaluate NUCATS (max. 5
pages). Students will be expected to attend each class, complete individual and team readiness
assurances that assess their mastery of the assigned materials, and actively participate in discussions.
Class sessions will combine lecture and small group exercises.
(1) January 8, 2013: Introduction to the Science of Team Science
History, Definitions, Evidence
Assignments:
A. www.teamscience.net Complete the Science of Team Science Module; Take post-test.
B. Reading: Whitfield, J. (2008) Group theory. Nature, 455 (October 9), 720-723
In-class exercise: Individual Knowledge Test
Team Knowledge Test
(2) January 15, 2013: Team Assembly
Opportunities, Challenges, Collaboration Readiness, Tools, Best Practices
Assignments:
A. www.teamscience.net Take pre-test; Complete Team Science Research Process in
Behavioral Science; Take post-test.
B. Complete Collaboration Readiness Questionnaire
C. Readings
Bennett, L.M., Gadlin, H., and Levine-Finley, S. (2010). Collaboration and Team Science:
A Field Guide (Bethesda, MD, National Institutes of Health). From www.teamscience.nih.gov
Guimerà, R., Uzzi, B., Spiro, J., and Amaral, L.A.N. (2005). Team Assembly Mechanisms
Determine Collaboration Network Structure and Team Performance. Science 308, 697-702.
In-class exercise: Team science toolkit epistemology exercise
(3) January 22, 2013: Team Management
Communication, Meta-Cognitive Processes, Tools, Funding Opportunities, Project Management
Assignments:
A. www.teamscience.net Take pre-test; Complete Team Science Research Process in Basic
Biomedical Science; Take post-test
B. Submit interview questions to ask the NUCATS leadership team
C. Readings:
Kozlowski, L. & Ilgen, D.R. (2006) Enhancing the Effectiveness of Work Groups and
Teams. Psychological Science in the Public Interest. 7, 77-124
Thompson, J.L. (2009). Building Collective Communication Competence in
Interdisciplinary Research Teams. J Appl Commun Res 37, 278-297.
In class exercise: Team Science role play
(4) January 29, 2013: Team Maintenance and Transition
Leadership, Distributed Collaboration, Conflict Resolution, Change and Flexibility
Assignments:
A. www.teamscience.net Take pre-test; Complete Team Science Research Process in Clinical
Medical Science; Take post-test
B. Readings:
Pentland, A. (2012) The new science of building great teams. Harvard Business Review
(April), 1-11
Wageman, R., Hackman, J.R., Lehman, E. (2005) Team Diagnostic Survey: Development
of an Instrument. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science; 4 1 , 3 7 3 - 3 9 8 .
In class exercise: Interview with Successful Science Leadership Team: Donald Lloyd Jones, Justin
Starren, Andrea Minogue from NUCATS
(5) February 5, 2013: Team Evaluation
Outcomes, Methods, Tools
Assigned Readings
(choose one article by Feller)
Feller, I. (2013) Performance measures as forms of evidence for science and technology
policy decisions. J Technol Transf (2013) 38:565–576
OR
Feller, I., Chubin, D., Derrick, E., Pharityal, P. (2013) in Boardman, C., Gray, D.O.,
Rivers,D. (eds.), Cooperative Research Centers and Technical Innovation: Government Policies,
Industry Strategies, and Organizational Dynamics (pp. 219-246) New York: Springer Publishers
Salas, E. & Lacerenza, C. (in press) Team Training for Team Science: Improving
Interdisciplinary Collaboration. Institute of Medicine. National Academy of Sciences Press.
Wagner, C.S., Roessner, J.D., Bobb, K., Klein, J.T., Boyack, K.W., Keyton, J., Rafols, I.,
Börner, K., (2011) Approaches to understanding and measuring interdisciplinary scientific
research (IDR): A review of the literature. Journal of Informetrics 165 (2011) 14–26
In-class exercise: Individual Knowledge Test
Team Knowledge Test
Guest Lecture:
Noshir Contractor on social network analyses of science teams
February 12, 2013: FINAL ASSIGNMENT DUE - Evaluation Proposal for NUCATS
Grading/Evaluation:
Active Class Participation (asking questions, providing comments, etc.)
Complete Pre- and Post-test Assessments for the 3 teamscience.net Research Process Modules
Individual Knowledge Tests
Interview Questions for NUCATS Leadership Team
Evaluation Proposal for NUCATS
30%
30%
10%
10%
20%