Initial Steps
The Affinity Research Group (ARG) model provides students with opportunities to learn, use, and integrate the knowledge and skills that are required for research with those required for cooperative work. The initial steps of forming an ARG are to incorporate the three core components described below.
There are several paths in which one can take:
Core Components
The three core components are: the definition of a group’s core ideology; active fostering of student connectedness; and application of deliberate management practices. Through the ARG model, faculty mentors create and sustain a cooperative environment that explicitly develops skills to make students successful in research, academe, and the workforce. As a result, students and faculty, in particular those from underrepresented groups, can reach higher levels of productivity and achievement. Each component is described below.
Core Ideology
Affinity research groups adopt a core ideology consisting of two essential components: core values and a sense of purpose that goes beyond reaching the goals of the research project. This philosophy drives decisions and chosen projects. The core values espoused by the affinity research group model are:
- Student success. An ARG values the deliberate development of skills in each student to ensure their success.
- Cooperation. An ARG values cooperation in all interactions, including mutual respect of opinions and ideas of all members, promotive interaction, positive interdependence, and individual accountability.
- Excellence. An ARG values excellence and strives to achieve it in all its actions.
Student Connectedness
Students build connections among members of the group and to members of the broader discipline or profession through, among other means, the annual orientation and assignment of tasks.
Deliberate Practice of Research, Communication, and Team Skills
Faculty mentors do not assume that students join a research group with the necessary skills to be successful. Skills are taught to and practiced by all team members in an intentional and deliberate manner with management practices that reinforce skills development and promote establishment of cooperative teams. The elements of a cooperative team are:
- Positive interdependence: all for one and one for all; each member of the team contributes to the success of the team
- Promotive interaction: promote each other’s success; criticize ideas without criticizing people
- Individual accountability: hold each member accountable for contributing his/her share; hold the group accountable for achieving its goals
- Learning and practicing interpersonal and group skills: need to learn and practice skills such as effective leadership, decision-making, trust-building, communication, and conflict-resolution; steps: know how to do it, reflect and refine use, and use automatically
- Reflection: reflect on how group is functioning; continuously improve