| Session Title: Evaluating Interdisciplinary Team Science: Theory and Methods for an Emerging Field of Inquiry |
| Expert Lecture Session 356 to be held in Suwannee 16 on Thursday, Nov 12, 3:35 PM to 4:20 PM |
| Sponsored by the Research on Evaluation TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Jacob Tebes, Yale University, jacob.tebes@yale.edu |
| Presenter(s): |
| Jacob Tebes, Yale University, jacob.tebes@yale.edu |
| Abstract: Science has become increasingly more interdisciplinary, with innovations now more commonly produced in teams of researchers drawn from multiple disciplines. This trend toward interdisciplinary team science has enabled researchers to address complex biomedical, psychosocial, and public health challenges more rapidly and effectively. To date, however, systematic and rigorous evaluation of the processes, outcomes, and impacts of team science has lagged behind these developments in scientific practice. Currently, there are no standard approaches to the evaluation of team science, and no generally accepted theories and methods to guide inquiry. This lecture provides an overview of this emerging field of inquiry, describes a conceptual framework for interdisciplinary team science, and shares measures and findings from a comprehensive, mixed methods NIH-funded evaluation of a team science consortium that involves more than 40 scientists working in ten interdisciplinary teams. Included are practical suggestions for conducting evaluations in this emerging field of inquiry. |