Thread by @DrPetra

Today's #ResearchTip is about working on a team/group/community project, having good ideas, and owning them.
How do you make that work? #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #PhDhelp #PhDChat #ECRChat

You're working on a project and you have a great idea - perhaps it's for extending a study or improving research or the way researchers are supported. You might be unsure whether it's okay to share your idea and what might happen if you do.

Before you share your idea
- note down what you think should happen
- ask who it brings in/leaves out
- consider how it extends/improves current work
- check if anyone else has done similar (to help stack up your claims)
- briefly note what your idea/proposal is (write it down)

At this point you might note the idea isn't worth doing. Or it is but you can proceed without discussing with others. In most cases on a group/community/team project you can't make changes without consultation so how do you find a way to share your idea - and protect it?

You could
- email the research team noting your idea and citing supporting evidence
- call a meeting to explain it
- ask to speak at a project/steering group meeting (and have your ideas credited and minuted)
- speak to a colleague you trust, documenting the chat afterwards

What you shouldn't do is have a great idea and not tell anyone, implementing it yourself without consultation. It could derail projects, cause bad feeling, or potentially breach ethics.
If you are worried your idea might be stolen, try the tips above to make your ownership clear.

It's common for PhDs, ECRs and sessional researchers to feel anxious about sharing ideas. Either due to understandable concerns over them being appropriated, or because of imposter syndrome or a belief it's not your role to think of ways to improve work.

But your good idea could transform a project, save time or money, develop new angles/ideas, or make things more inclusive or safe.
Don't be shy. Establish your ideas, make bold claims, take ownership of your work. Good luck!