Communicated research is more valuable research. It is more valuable because it is widened and informed by the views of others and also because there is more chance of it having a wider impact. What we research may be driven by our own concerns about our work. How we do it and what we do with it can usefully be influenced by contact with others. Since contact can be by phone or letter, as well as in person, networks open up support possibilities for those living and working at a distance from others.
Networks are one way of tapping into existing expertise and experience.
Both groups offer routes for disseminating findings and ideas. Individual members of a large network should not find their involvement onerous. Clearly people need to be accessible and other members of the network have to know the topics or areas on which one is offering specific as well as general support. When someone uses the network, the kind of support they want may not initially be clear. They may want to talk about what they are doing and put you in the picture.