scholarly journals Evaluating Academic Research Networks

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Damien Contandriopoulos ◽  
Catherine Larouche ◽  
Arnaud Duhoux
Keyword(s):  
Research Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Scientific Productivity ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Institutional Research ◽  
Research Networks ◽  
Scientific Performance ◽  
Small Component ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Policies And Programs

Abstract: Funding agencies and universities are increasingly searching for effec-tive ways to support and strengthen a dynamic and competitive scientific research capacity. Many of their funding policies are based on the hypothesis that increased collaboration and networking between researchers and between institutions lead to improved scientific productivity. Although many studies have found positive correlations between academic collaborations and research performance, it is less clear how formal institutional networks contribute to this effect. Using social net-work analysis (SNA) methods, we highlight the distinction between what we define as “formal” institutional research networks and “organic” researcher networks. We also analyze the association between researchers’ actual structural position in such networks and their scientific performance. The data used come from cur-riculum vitae information of 125 researchers in two provincially funded research networks in Quebec, Canada. Our findings confirm a positive correlation between collaborations and research productivity. We also demonstrate that collaborations within the formal networks in our study constitute a relatively small component of the underlying organic network of collaborations. These findings contribute to the literature on evaluating policies and programs that pertain to institutional research networks and should stimulate research on the capacity of such networks to foster research productivity.Résumé : Les universités et les agences de financement cherchent de plus en plus à renforcer de façon efficace une capacité de recherche scientifique dynamique et concurrentielle.  Bon nombre de leurs politiques de financement sont fondées sur l’hypothèse qu’une amélioration de la collaboration et du réseautage entre les chercheurs et entre les établissements mène à une productivité scientifique accrue. De nombreuses études ont noté une corrélation positive entre les collaborations de recherche et le rendement en recherche, mais la contribution des réseaux institution-nels officiels à ce résultat reste nébuleuse. À l’aide de méthodes d’analyse des réseaux sociaux, nous mettons l’accent sur la distinction entre ce que nous définissons comme les réseaux institutionnels de recherche « officiels » et les réseaux « organiques » de chercheurs. Nous analysons aussi l’association entre les positions structurelles réelles

scholarly journals The Effect of TUBITAK’s R&D and Project Fundings on Academic Research Activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-91
Author(s):  
emine beyza satoğlu
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Technological Research Council ◽  
The Impact

Universities, through providing research, publications and innovations in the scientific field, provide significant contributions to the national research and development (R&D) system. That is why most governments are keen to support scientific research activities directly or indirectly. In this regard, this paper aims to analyze the impact of R&D supports of TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) on the research performance of universities in Turkey. The study comparatively investigates the efficiency of the research fundings in different university types, public and private. As an empirical model, a panel data analysis spanning 2013 to 2018 period has been used for the top 10 public and top 11 private universities. Our findings prove that national research grants of TUBITAK have a significant and positive impact on academic research only when the highest-ranking universities are analyzed; otherwise, the impact is insignificant. Secondly, for the large sample analysis, we found that public universities used research funds more efficiently compared to private universities. Furthermore, our findings prove that teaching load does not necessarily risk the research capacity of a university.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Iranian TEFL Postgraduate Candidates’ Research Productivity: A Qualitative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Reihanne Yousefi ◽  
Abdorreza Tahriri ◽  
Maryam Danaye Tous
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Research Productivity ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Institutional Research ◽  
Research Environment ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Motivational Influences ◽  
Conducting Research

Developing research performance has become an important theme in Iranian higher educational institutions as other national and international academic institutions across the world. However, the research performance of Iranian Teaching English as a Foreign Language postgraduate candidates has been argued to be limited. In order to increase their research productivity and develop their capacity in this regard, the first critical step is to understand the influences which are associated with their academic research performance. This qualitative study focuses on a group of TEFL postgraduate candidates from five major Iranian universities with the purpose of investigating the motivational influences in conducting research, their perception of research value, and their understanding of research environment which is required for research productivity. Interviews were conducted with 20 candidates from the sample universities. It was revealed that the research related activities and efforts of the participants were driven by both external and internal needs and motivations. A multi-dimensional value was accorded to research; however, the academic research environment and requirements were the subject of various concerns. The results of this study offer several future implications for departmental and institutional research administrators to further support TEFL postgraduate candidates’ research development.

Conceptualizing academic intellectual capital: definition and proposal of a measurement scale

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 306-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús de Frutos-Belizón ◽  
Fernando Martín-Alcázar ◽  
Gonzalo Sánchez-Gardey
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Scientific Productivity ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Knowledge ◽  
Research Context ◽  
External Reporting ◽  
Reporting Tool

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and validation of an instrument for measuring intellectual capital in the academic research context. The current research context describes a new paradigm of scientific production characterized by interdisciplinarity, heterogeneity and the intensification of the relations between the generators of knowledge. In this scenario, traditional measures of intellectual capital do not capture all the variables that make up the environment in which the research activities are carried out. This transformation of research processes suggests the need to bring theories of organizational behavior, more appropriate to an organizational context, to the study of scientific context. Thus, the paper contextualizes the intellectual capital approach, thereby explaining how the different attributes that build it influence scientific productivity and providing a measurement instrument to evaluate relative levels of intellectual capital in an academic research context. Design/methodology/approach The scale was designed through a double qualitative–quantitative scale development process. The literature on intellectual capital does not provide strong theoretical support for the definition of a specific set of items to be applied in the specific academic research context. Consequently, the scale constructs and observable variables were initially conceptualized through a Delphi panel. This initial set of indicators was empirically validated through a second quantitative stage to a sample of 1,798 Spanish academics. Given that no prior published studies have examined the construct validity of the proposed scale, and the proposed scale is not based on other previously validated scales, the authors used exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to assess the internal consistency, using Cronbach’s α to determine reliability. Findings Drawing on the evidence obtained from a double qualitative–quantitative process, a scale consisting of 47 items was proposed to measure the three dimensions of intellectual capital, namely, the researcher’s human capital, as well as the nature of the social capital and organizational capital of the team in which the scholar is integrated. The process of identifying and validating indicators of intellectual capital allowed the authors to identify certain intangible elements that are key in the research process and that, therefore, determine scientific productivity. Thus, the proposed scale contributes by conceptualizing new variables that could be used to deepen and broaden the study of the determinants of research performance. The contextualization of intellectual capital approach can also help to assess the value of intangibles, offering an external reporting tool and making universities’ social contributions more visible to public and private stakeholders, justifying the efforts made by societies in the generation of academic knowledge. Research limitations/implications The empirical analysis was carried out with an initial sample of 1,798 Spanish scholars. The validation of the scale should therefore be confirmed in different national contexts, with larger data sets. Likewise, the use of longitudinal data sets could help to study the effects of intellectual capital in academic research, thereby contributing to the ongoing debate on the determinants of research performance. Originality/value From a practical perspective, the instrument could be considered both as a management and an external reporting tool, providing a self-assessment instrument of the levels of intellectual capital. As a management tool, a specific measure of intellectual capital in an academic context could help to identify training needs, the implementation of practices that encourage the capability for building research networks and the development of reports with intellectual capital-related inputs for the justification of the resources received. At an institutional level, the proposed set of indicators also identifies the attributes of scholars linked to higher scientific performance, and the scale could be used as an instrument for selection processes in academic institutions, to develop practices related to the distribution of workload or the publication of intellectual capital indicators of its researchers in a healthy exercise of transparency.

scholarly journals The Internal Capability of Vietnam Social Sciences and Humanities: A Perspective from the 2008–2019 Dataset

Publications ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manh-Toan Ho ◽  
Thu-Trang Vuong ◽  
Thanh-Hang Pham ◽  
Anh-Phuong Luong ◽  
Thanh-Nhan Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Research Collaboration ◽  
Participation Rate ◽  
Scientific Productivity ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Collaboration Network ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Scientific Performance ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
And Gender

International collaboration contributes significantly to improving scientific performance in Vietnam, but it also results in Vietnamese researchers depending on foreign partners to get their work published. The current study is an initial effort to examine the domestic research capability of Vietnam’s Social Science and Humanities (SSH) disciplines through scientific productivity. The research focuses on investigating various aspects, including leading Vietnamese authors, solo authors, and gender difference, as well as international and domestic collaboration networks. The study extracts the data of 2040 Vietnamese SSH authors, 1981 foreign authors, and 3160 publications during the period of 2008–2019, from the exclusive Social Sciences and Humanities Peer Awards (SSHPA) database. Findings show a steadily rising contribution from leading domestic authors in SSH research, with an annual growth rate of approximately 22.33%. Moreover, 77.26% of publications are led by Vietnamese researchers. The proportion of publications by Vietnamese authors increased dramatically and surpassed the proportion of internationally collaborated publications in 2019, at 55.83%. The domestic research collaboration network has expanded in an observable manner. However, the participation rate of women in SSH research was relatively low, at an average of 37.30%. While the self-sustaining capacity of SSH researchers and institutes in Vietnam has been rising, gender inequality remains prevalent. In order to further strengthen and promote the scholarly community, as well as their research capacity, and to maintain public trust in SSH research, we recommend that policymakers encourage self-sustaining research, nationwide collaboration, and empower female researchers.

Scientific collaboration networks in Pakistan and their impact on institutional research performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahad Sabah ◽  
Saeed-Ul Hassan ◽  
Amina Muazzam ◽  
Sehrish Iqbal ◽  
Saira Hanif Soroya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Collaboration ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
External Information ◽  
Institutional Research ◽  
Institutional Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the scientific collaboration of institutions and its impact on institutional research performance in terms of productivity and quality. The researchers examined the local and international collaborations that have a great impact on institutional performance. Design/methodology/approach Collaboration dependence measure was used to investigate the impact of an institution on external information. Based on this information, the authors used “index of gain in impact through collaboration” to find the impact of collaborated publications in institutional research performance. Bibliographic data between 1996 and 2010 retrieved from Scopus were used to conduct current study. The authors carried out the case study of top institutes of Pakistan in terms of publication count to elaborate the difference between high performing institutions and those who gain disproportionally in terms of perceived quality of their output because of local or international collaboration. Findings The results showed that the collaboration of developing countries institutes on international level had a great impact on institutional performance and they gain more benefit than local collaboration. Altogether, the scientific collaboration has a positive impact on institutional performance as measured by the cumulative source normalized impact per paper of their publications. The findings could also help researchers to find out appropriate collaboration partners. Originality/value This study has revealed some salient characteristics of collaboration in academic research. It becomes apparent that collaboration intensity is not uniform, but in general, the average quality of scientific production is the variable that most often correlates positively with the collaboration intensity of universities.

Measuring academic research performance through audit at the expense of trust: Exploring the 21st Century University

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Holligan ◽  
Ibrahim Sirkeci
Keyword(s):  
Research Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Reputation Management ◽  
Intellectual Life ◽  
Budget Cuts ◽  
University Culture ◽  
The Public ◽  
Audit Culture ◽  
Management Quality ◽  
Fiscal Austerity

British universities are experiencing a climate of fiscal austerity including severe budget cuts coupled with intensifying competition for markets have seen the emergence of audit culture which afflicts the public sector in general. This entails the risk to the integrity of university culture disappearing. This paper seeks to explore the interconnections between developing trends in universities which cause processes likely to undermine the objectivity and independence of research. We question that universities’ alignment with the capitalist business sector and the dominant market economy culture. Despite arguably positive aspects, there is a danger that universities may be dominated by hegemonic sectional interest rather than narratives of openness and democratically oriented critique. We also argue that audit culture embedded in reputation management, quality control and ranking hierarchies may necessarily promote deception while diminishing a collegiate culture of trust and pursuit of truth which is replaced by destructive impersonal accountability procedures. Such transitions inevitably contain insidious implications for the nature of the academy and undermine the values of academic-intellectual life.

scholarly journals Die identifisering van maatstawwe vir die navorsingsprestasie van akademici

1990 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Labuschagne ◽  
M. L. Watkins
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Research Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Performance Criteria ◽  
Pass Rates ◽  
Development Participation ◽  
The University ◽  
Academic Personnel ◽  
Participation In Research

Identification of criteria for academic research performance. At South African universities, the achievement of objectives is usually measured in terms of so-called "process criteria" (e.g. pass rates), instead of performance criteria which reflect the quality of academic personnel. Stimulated by the need to identify valid indices of research performance, as a component of academic performance, this study investigated the dimensionality of several criteria, identified from empirical and literature studies. It was found that various valid criteria could be represented by six constructs, viz.: the stature of the researcher as scientist; scientific contributions; enhancement of own profession; community development; participation in research projects; and giving advice to persons or institutions outside the university. Opsomming By Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite word doelwitbereiking gewoonlik aan die hand van sogenaamde "prosesmaat-stawwe" (bv. slaagsyfers) in plaas van prestasiemaatstawwe wat die gehalte van akademiese personeel weerspieel, gemeet. Na aanleiding van 'n behoefte aan die identifisering van geldige rigtingwysers vir navorsingsprestasie as 'n komponent van akademiese prestasie, is daar ondersoek ingestel na die dimensionaliteit van verskillende maatstawwe wat vooraf deur middel van empiriese- en literatuurstudies geidentifiseer is. Daar is gevind dat verskeie geldige maatstawwe deur ses konstrukte verteenwoordig word, te wete: die statuur van die navorser as wetenskaplike, wetenskaplike bydraes, uitbouing van eie professie, gemeenskapsontwikkeling, deelname aan navorsingsprojekte en advieslewering aan persone of instellings buite die Universiteit.

scholarly journals O desempenho da investigação em gestão em Portugal: Algumas causas e consequências

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 103
Author(s):  
Margarida M. Pinheiro
Keyword(s):  
Research Performance ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
National Agency ◽  
Academic Promotion ◽  
Research Production ◽  
Education Data ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
Academic Recognition ◽  
The One

Motivated by literature reviews of quality assurance systems, scientific research, academic recognition and academic activity, the aim of this paper is to identify the causes and consequences of research performance in management that occurs in Portuguese universities. This empirical analysis involved data collection from curricular files compulsorily submitted to the national Agency for Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education. Data refers to the one and only national census for quality accreditation. Logistic regression, cluster analysis and optimal scaling were used. On the one hand, the study seems to confirm what is already known from the literature: those who do scientific research tend to achieve a greater academic promotion, because they reach higher professional categories or higher academic levels, and even more stable tenure-track contracts. On the other hand, the study reveals that the teaching load does not seem to influence academic research. Furthermore, it appears that age, gender, internationalization, professional experience and endogamy do not contribute to scientific research production.

No Longer Overlooked and Undervalued? The Evolving Dynamics of Endogenous Educational Research in Sub-Saharan Africa

2006 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICHARD MACLURE
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Educational Research ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Research Networks ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Local Research

Multilateral donors like the World Bank and bilateral agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the British Department for International Development exert a great deal of influence in international educational development — particularly in sub-Saharan Africa — both in the programs they fund and the types of research they engage in. In this article, Richard Maclure investigates educational research in Africa and juxtaposes research done by large, exogenous, Western, results-oriented organizations with research performed by smaller, endogenous, local researchers aided by local research networks. Maclure argues convincingly that research that falls into the exogenous "donor-control" paradigm far too often is irrelevant to the African educational policy context and does little to develop local research capacity. The cases of two African research networks — the Educational Research Network of West and Central Africa and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa—are presented as exemplars of organizations that promote an alternative type of research that is endogenous, relevant to policy and the process of policymaking, and controlled by Africans. Maclure concludes with a call for increased support for and development of these types of networks, and for the development of the long-term solution to educational research in Africa — the university.

Upholding “Colonial Unknowing” Through the IRB: Reframing Institutional Research Ethics

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1056-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheeva Sabati
Keyword(s):  
Research Ethics ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Institutional Review Boards ◽  
Institutional Research ◽  
Origin Stories ◽  
History Of Research ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Common ◽  
A Site

This article considers the institutionalization of research ethics as a site of “colonial unknowing” in which the racial colonial entanglements of academic research and institutions are obscured. I examine the origin stories situating Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) as a response to cases of exceptional violence, most notably the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, within an otherwise neutral history of research. I then consider how the 2018 revisions to the Common Rule extend “colonial unknowing” by decontextualizing the forms of risk involved in social and behavioral research. I situate these complicities as necessary starting points toward anticolonial research ethics of “answerability.”

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