Characteristics of contemporary health research practice: A shift from ivory tower to collaborative power

Abstract

Abstract The academic world is rapidly changing due to multiple influences, including COVID-19, technological advancement, tertiary competition, shifting government policies, and emerging research practices and priorities. Given this rapidly changing tertiary-education landscape, added importance is placed on the need for emerging research leaders to understand contemporary research practices which likely exceeds the skills displayed by their supervisors and mentors. Consequently, reflecting on 80+ years of collective post-PhD research experience, we identify and discuss six common characteristics of contemporary health research practice, with the aim of guiding and empowering higher degree by research students and emerging early career researchers as they develop their research identities and shape their approaches and values on the path to becoming research leaders in health. Indicative of today’s dynamic and exacting research environment, we propose that best practice contemporary health research should be: Diverse; Creative; Collaborative; Authentic; Respectful; and, Trusting. By understanding a diverse range of research approaches, and through working in collaborative and creative teams, diversity of thought, approach, and methods can become a cornerstone of practice. By blending this understanding with questions and research approaches that facilitate the pathway of translation uptake for the next-user, emerging research leaders can deliver authentic research with the requisite ingredients for impact.