What do academics share in a research group? A critical case study
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the content of knowledge sharing among academics. The aim is to make an empirical contribution to a practically unresearched topic in the national (Spanish) and international context. To this purpose, an exploratory analysis based on a critical case study was proposed. Sixteen interviews were conducted with members of a research group at a Spanish public university. The results reveal that academics share elements of explicit, tacit and emotional support related to teaching, research and knowledge transfer. It has been found that the exchange refers preferentially to the field of research and that there are differences between senior and junior researchers in terms of the type of knowledge and emotional support they give and receive. This study shows that the tacit nature of knowledge can hinder its transfer and that emotional support, as part of social support, can favor knowledge sharing practices among academics.
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References
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