Understanding the meaning of awareness in research networks

Abstract

The term awareness is often used in the context of CSCW research and connotes reestablishing face to face situations in so called groupware applications. No understanding of it yet exists in the context of networked learning and networks of researchers. In this article we present a succinct description of awareness in Research Networks. It is grounded in guided semi structured interviews with 42 researchers that have extensive knowledge of cooperation in networked communities and the awareness issues it raises. From the analysis of the interview data we present six forms and five aspects of awareness in Research Networks. Finally we present a layer model of awareness that describes how researchers awareness is typically spread.