Communicating with Investigators about Financial Compensation for Statistical Collaboration

Communicating with investigators about financial compensation in the area of statistical collaboration represents an important but often underemphasized component of biomedical research. The more complex the area, the greater the need for sound and effective communication strategies. Ittenbach and DeAngelis (2012) recently compared two compensation-based models for statistical collaboration--a fee-for-service model and a percent effort model--recommending a hybrid of the two for use in academic medical centers. The purpose of the current paper is to extend their work by providing a rationale and framework for communication among scientific teams. The discussion is organized around three pivotal areas: understanding the client's needs and constraints, establishing effective patterns of communication, and demonstrating knowledge in financial as well as analytical matters. Recommendations for improving the collaborative, communication-based processes are offered.