Forming Collaborations in Spain Posted on January 20, 2009 Antonio Cepeda-Benito (bio) describes benefits and challenges for international collaborations.

In a way, it's easier sometimes than doing work in the United States. And in other ways it might be more difficult. Typically one issue that you have to sort of, IRB basically because, typically, the United States has much more strict guidelines and limitations than in other countries. So an IRB that passes muster in the United States is clearly going to be accepted by the host country. So that's not a huge problem.

In many ways it's a lot easier because people are more, I mean, in this country, people are tested out or we overload them with surveys. I mean, if you have been an undergraduate and have, took a psychology class probably had to do a couple of psychology experiments.

Whereas, in some of these countries, they've never done a psychology experiment. They never completed an evaluation of any kind or type, and so they're eager to do this kind of work. In Latin America, a little money goes a long way, and so you don't need as much funding and finances.

I think the biggest problem is really, or complication, is to meet the people and find a way of getting there. But I think nowadays with the internet and so forth, you can establish, if you want to, I really don't see major obstacles. I think in a way it's easier because people are going to open the doors to you, and they have a lot of interest in engaging in the collaborations.