Assessing Equity and Inclusion in Research Teams through Constructive Distributed Work

We present results from a pilot study assessing the efficacy of a project management and team building heuristic by analyzing a recent grant writing project completed by an interdisciplinary, interinstitutional research group. That heuristic, “constructive distributed work” (CDW), integrates core principles for professional development (developing rhetorical confidence, using a networked model of mentoring, and sustained attention to infrastructure) with team-specific best practices mapped to the functions of collaborative work. The threedimensional nature of CDW affords both consideration of overall team effectiveness and its impacts on equity and inclusion. The pilot study confirmed the role the research group’s team communication platform played in successful coordination, and demonstrated how the research group’s commitment to rhetorical listening helped keep their collaboration inclusive. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of this method for collecting data and coding, and helps to set parameters for future research. We conclude by summarizing possible changes to the CDW heuristic and research design refinements suggested by the pilot study.