Reflections on adversarial collaboration from the adversaries: was it worth it?

Area of Science:

• Scientific collaboration
• Conflict resolution in science
• Research methodology

Background:

• Adversarial collaborations (ACs) are proposed as a method to resolve scientific disputes and deadlocked debates.
• Despite theoretical enthusiasm, practical applications and scholar experiences with ACs remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the experiences and outcomes of scholars who have participated in adversarial collaborations.
• To provide insights into the practicalities and benefits of ACs for advancing scientific inquiry.

Main Methods:

• Survey and interviews with 29 scholars involved in 13 completed adversarial collaboration projects.
• Qualitative analysis of participant perspectives on the AC process and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Interpersonal conflicts in ACs were generally minor.
• ACs required more upfront effort than traditional collaborations but led to high-quality results.
• The most common outcome was an integrated, deeper understanding of the research domain, rather than a single "winner".

Conclusions:

• Adversarial collaborations are a valuable tool for advancing scientific understanding and resolving disputes.
• ACs foster more thoughtful post-publication debates and integrate opposing perspectives for comprehensive insights.
• Findings offer practical guidance for researchers and journals considering ACs, though generalizability is limited to completed projects.