Groups
Contents |
What is a group?
Groups consist of members that share common interests of any kind. Every registered member in ResearchGATE can create groups. Use the group overview page to see what kinds of groups exist within the ResearchGATE community.
Group overview
My groups
Access groups that you're a member of.
Latest comments in your groups
Read the most recent comments in your groups.
Active groups
Check out other active ResearchGATE groups.
Latest public comments
Read recent public comments.
How to join, discover and leave groups?
You can join and find groups in different ways.
Browse groups
Browse through ResearchGATE’s entire group list. The list can be sorted by member count, timeline, science discipline and group name. To join, click 'join group' on the right-hand side.
Find group
Basic search: Search for a group by typing any term into the search box.
Extended search: If you have a more specific group in mind, please provide more details by using the extended search.
Leave a group
To leave a group, go to 'My groups' and click on the right side of the group’s v-card 'leave group'.
Create a group
You can also create your own group. You will automatically join a created group. Everybody can create groups. If you create a group, you will be able to define the group settings.
Type of groups
This setting defines your new group’s type. ResearchGATE offers eight different types of group symbolized by different icons: common interest, society, project, institution, network, workgroup, event, company.
Name, description, additional information, contact details, image
Provide a group name and a description. You can also provide additional information and further contact details (e.g., e-mail, Web site), as well as upload an image.
Group category and other keywords
Your group can be assigned a group category selected from a predefined list of various science disciplines. You can also add other keywords according to the selected group category.
Group privacy settings and restrictions
When you set up a group you will automatically have rights to administer the group, such as members that are invited to join and postings. You can also appoint other administrators.
Secure group
If you select this option your new group will have the following properties:
1.) Only administrators can invite new members to the group
2.) Only group members can access data such as discussions, files, appointments, etc.
3.) The group name is not displayed in any member's group list
4.) The group is not indexed under "Browse Groups" and cannot be found within ResearchGATE
Joining restrictions
Choose one of three different presets.
Everybody can join: Every ResearchGATE researcher can join the created group.
Members or administrators will invite researchers to join: Members and administrators can invite other researchers to join the group.
Administrators will invite researchers to join: Only super-(administrators) can invite other researchers to join.
Discussion board privacy
We offer you two presets.
Everybody can view discussion board: Every ResearchGATE member can view the discussion board. This enables researchers to read through the board without joining the group. Non-members, however, are not allowed to write comments. To add comments, the researcher has to join the group.
Only members can view discussion board: Only the members of the created group can view the discussion board.
Request membership
Depending on the selected joining restriction, you can enable researchers who are not member of a closed group, to request membership. The request must be approved by a group super-administrator.
Show in search
This option includes the group in ResearchGATE’s search index. This means researchers within ResearchGATE can find your group by using the ResearchGATE search function.
Advanced functionalities
Choose whether or not your group is able to use file sharing ReStory (Research Storage History), a calender application (including ReMeet) and a voting tool (ReVote).
Usage of groups
Enable different applications offering enhanced functionality for your group.
Advanced Group interaction
Groups within ResearchGATE can be “grouped” with each other, meaning that groups can be related to other groups: Groups can be designated “children” or “parents” of other groups or you can relate them to each other on the same hierarchy level.
Linking groups
You have the option to link every group in ResearchGATE to your group. You can propose the structure of the linkage (parents, children, simply related) to other groups. The connection has to be approved by the super-administrator of the other group.
View related groups
You can use the group browser to find related groups quickly and easily.
Basic group functions
Manage group
To manage a group, ResearchGATE offers you a sophisticated administration toolbar. As a super-administrator, you can define other super-administrators or administrators. As a (super-) admin you can remove members from a group or delete the whole group. Furthermore, you can edit the group, which includes all inputs (except the group category) you entered when you created the group. To find a specific member, use the 'Find member' field.
Differences between superadmin, admins and members
There are three different types of group membership: superadmins, admins and member.
Rights of Superadmins, Admins and Members
Invite researchers
It’s easy to invite other researchers, who are your confirmed contacts, to join a group. You can also add a private message to the invitation. The invitation rights are based on the group’s invitation settings. [Link zu Invite colleagues]
Group messages
Group administrators are allowed to send messages to all members by clicking on 'Send message' on the right-hand side of the screen. Other group members can write a message to send to the entire group, but an administrator has to approve this. If a proposed group message is approved to send to all members, the administrators have an option to turn it into a topic post.
Notifications
Select the notifications for group changes that you want to receive for a specific group.
Group notifications
The notifications (e.g. a new file was added to your group) of different activities within a group will be displayed on your homepage and, depending on your preferences, delivered via e-mail.
Topic subscriptions
Subscribing to a topic allows you to receive notifications when new threads or comments are posted.
Discussion Board
Discussion board Within a group, the discussion board is used to discuss various topics.
The discussion board has a triple hierarchy: topic, thread and post. As an administrator of a group or a creator of a discussion board entry, you are allowed to edit or even delete topics, threads and comments. ResearchGATE saves the topic and threads which you already read. This is indicated by different symbols.
Add topic
Only Super-administrators and administrators in a group can add a topic.
Add thread
You can create threads within a topic.
Add comment
Comments can be posted to every thread.
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Topics
You can subscribe or unsubscribe to different topics within a group. You automatically subscribe to a topic when you create this topic or if you post a thread or a comment within this topic. The symbol of the thread or topic changes when you subscribe to it (go to "Topic suscriptions" to subscribe).
Edit/delete Topics/Threads/Posts
Only an administrator or the person who created a topic, thread or a post can delete or edit a comment.
My contributions
This feature presents you with a list of all the comments you've made and the threads you've started in groups.
Invite researchers
It’s easy to invite other researchers, who are your confirmed contacts, to join a group. You can also add a private message to the invitation. The invitation rights are based on the group’s invitation settings (read more about invitations here Researchers).
Manage group
To manage a group, ResearchGATE has a sophisticated administration toolbar. As a superadministrator, you can appoint other superadministrators or administrators. As a (super-) admin you can remove members from a group or delete the whole group. Furthermore, you can edit the group, which includes all inputs (except the group category), you entered when you created the group. To find a specific member, use the find member field. Rights of Superadmins, Admins and Members
Advanced group functions
File Management
ReStory (Research Storage History) is a smart file-sharing tool for research collaborations of all kinds. This application enables you to exchange all your files organized in folders (e.g., research papers, grant applications, charts or presentations) with co-researchers via ResearchGATE. These files will be safely stored online. They are easily accessible to you and your collaborators at anytime. ReStory supersedes constantly e-mailing documents between colleagues and makes multiple-version confusion a thing of the past. It is more efficient than a typical university server: At one glance, not only the current version of the file is available, but all the previous versions as well, with their relevant file information. This makes it easy to keep track of the latest input from your collaborators.
Calendar application
This application enables a calendar with advanced functions (e.g. ReMeet), which gives you the flexibility to schedule an appointment such as a board meeting, research seminar, conference call, or any other group appointment. You can view upcoming appointments and share a calendar with other members of this group.
Voting application
Enables researchers of a group to conduct polls among all members using ReVote. This can be utilized for multiple purposes such as deciding on a meeting time, venue, or any other reason you want to take a vote.