This proposed study will examine collaborative organizational interactions and the effectiveness of collaborative projects and other joint activities between institutions of higher education and external groups and organizations. The project will use B. Gray's theory delineating three key conditions for collaborative interaction: the degree to which (1) problems, issues and tasks are worked out on the basis of participants' interest or stake in the situation; (2) decisions and problem resolution are achieved by consensus; and (3) trust and positive relationships exist. The project will be a correlation study designed to determine if factors that define collaboration can be identified and if they correlate with effectiveness or outcome measures of the collaborative activity. The study will be based on a sample of 15 inter-organizational collaborations. Internal validity threats will be limited by documenting and analyzing similarities and differences based on the data gathered during the screening phase of document content analysis and focused interviews. The study will gather data through site visits at each location where a collaborative active measure and an effectiveness measure will be administered. Three instruments will measure Gray's three variables: the Work Patterns Profile, Bales' Interaction Process Analysis, and Hemphill's Index of Group Dimensions. (Contains 14 references.) (JB)