  The present work investigates the relations between amplitude and type of
collaboration (intramural, extramural domestic or international) and output of
specialized versus diversified research. By specialized or diversified
research, we mean within or beyond the author's dominant research topic. The
field of observation is the scientific production over five years from about
23,500 academics. The analyses are conducted at the aggregate and disciplinary
level. The results lead to the conclusion that in general, the output of
diversified research is no more frequently the fruit of collaboration than is
specialized research. At the level of the particular collaboration types,
international collaborations weakly underlie the specialized kind of research
output; on the contrary, extramural domestic and intramural collaborations are
weakly associated with diversified research. While the weakness of association
remains, exceptions are observed at the level of the individual disciplines.
