Dementia Researchers' Inside Views on Research Networks and Alignment With Public Research Funding: A Qualitative Study

This study presents the dementia researchers views of research networks, and how the networks fit into their pursuit of research objectives and dementia research funding. We conducted 10 semi-structured interviews with 10 leading dementia researchers in Norway, for a qualitative study inspired by grounded theory. The dementia researchers consider the six categories to determine the legitimacy of the proposed network and its proposing person. The six categories are: personal motivation, relationship and friendship, communication, research funding, research management, and network characteristics. The dementia researcher offers insights into best practice of research networks. The study suggests that leading dementia researchers collaborate effectively on research activities toward personal research interests and objectives, but these are not actively aligned coordinated with the interests of the public research funding institutions. Lack of coordination between the funded dementia researchers and the funding institutions limits the potential performance from the dementia research.

Automated summary

This study examines the perspectives of dementia researchers on research networks and their importance in achieving research goals and funding. It finds that dementia researchers consider personal motivation, relationships, communication, research funding, research management, and network characteristics when evaluating the legitimacy of a proposed network. The study also offers insights into best practices for research networks. However, it highlights a lack of coordination between dementia researchers and funding institutions, which hampers the potential impact of dementia research.