New Evidence on Instrumental, Conceptual, and Symbolic Utilization of University Research in Government Agencies

Amara, Nabil; Ouimet, Mathieu; Landry, Réjean

doi:10.1177/1075547004267491

Cited by 354 publications

(423 citation statements)

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“…The literature on knowledge utilization suggests that there is better exploitation of university research by non-academics when research projects focus on user needs and societal impact as well as scholarly advancement (Amara et al, 2004;Landry et al, 2003). Hessels and van Lente (2008: 742) note that the 'sensitivity to the impact of the research is built from the start', pointing to the importance of societal goals for the research.…”

Section: Focus On Users' Needs and Societal Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Beyer (1997) argues that scientific research can be used directly to solve specific problems (instrumental use) and indirectly to promote thinking and general enlightenment (conceptual use) or to sustain and legitimate an idea or position (symbolic use). Drawing on this, some authors argue that the type of knowledge generated in SSH is mainly conceptual and symbolic (Amara et al, 2004). For instance, government agencies use the knowledge provided by social scientists to articulate and legitimize the programmes they want to promote.…”

Section: The Characteristics Of Research and How It Is Usedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Knowledge transfer activities in social sciences and humanities: Explaining the interactions of research groups with non-academic agents

2014

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The aim of this research is to achieve a better understanding of the processes underlying knowledge transfer (KT) in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). The paper addresses: first, the extent of SSH research groups' engagement in KT and the formal KT activities used to interact with non-academic communities; and second, how the characteristics of research groups may influence engagement in various types of KT. The empirical analysis is at research group level using data derived from a questionnaire of SSH research groups conducted by the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). We find that KT activities are based on relational rather than commercial activities. The most frequent relational activities in which SSH research groups engage are consultancy and contract research, with personnel mobility a marginal activity. We find also that the characteristics of research groups (e.g. size and multidisciplinarity) and individuals (e.g. status and research impact) are associated with involvement in KT activities and that a deliberate focus on the societal impacts and relevance of the research conducted is strongly related to active engagement of research groups in all the modes of KT considered in this study. From a managerial perspective, our findings suggest that measures promoting a focus on the societal impact of research could enhance research groups' engagement in KT activities.

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Section: Focus On Users' Needs and Societal Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Characteristics Of Research and How It Is Usedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge transfer activities in social sciences and humanities: Explaining the interactions of research groups with non-academic agents

2014

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“…Misplaced expectations of qualitative research, e.g. that research will result in neat instrumental policy outcomes rather than a more diverse conceptual contribution (Amara et al, 2004), have often impeded productive conversations between social and natural scientists in interdisciplinary initiatives (Gill, 2006), and social scientists have found themselves being 'tacked on' to environmental management bureaucracies dominated by natural science models, despite some good intentions (Roughley, 2005).…”

Section: Challenges Related To the Integration Of Social Sciences Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and the challenge of integrating social sciences and humanities

Stenseke

2016

Bulletin of Geography. Socio-Economic Series

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For the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), established in 2012, under the auspices of four United Nations entities (FAO, UNDP, UNEP and UNESCO), there is an urgent need to engage scholars in social sciences and humanities in assessing the state of the planet’s biodiversity. This article addresses the fundaments for involving scientists from these fields of science in IPBES, and reflects on the existing barriers. It builds on previous research on IPBES from various perspectives, as well as on the author’s insights from work in the organization. A fundamental condition recognized is that there needs to be a qualified understanding of what it means to integrate natural sciences and social sciences/humanities, and also that the latter have to be accepted on their own terms. Other barriers are related to the contextualisation of biodiversity issues and the more politically sensitive character of research carried out in social sciences and humanities. In the conclusions it is emphasized that the deliverables of the first round of IPBES assessments have to be solid enough from the perspectives of social sciences and humanities, in order to attract more of these scholars to work for the platform in the future.

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“…Most effect analyses of KT at the macro level rely on questionnaire sampling of users' perceived use (e.g., Landry et al 2003;Amara et al 2004). This practice allows for large samples and quantitative data.…”

Section: Implications For Applied Evaluation Of Organizational Ktmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Interventions Aimed at Promoting Information Utilization in Organizations and Systems

Contandriopoulos¹,

Brousselle²,

Kêdoté³

2008

hcpol

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This paper presents a theoretical and practical framework for evaluating interventions aimed at promoting information utilization in organizational decision-making. The framework integrates three distinct yet complementary theoretical perspectives on information utilization in politico-administrative systems: (1) the literature on evaluation utilization, (2) current thinking on knowledge transfer (KT) in the health policy field and (3) approaches derived from the analysis of lobbying in political science. Our analysis calls into question the relevance of effect analysis in evaluating organizational or policy-level KT initiatives, but also suggests dimensions that should be explored when evaluating KT initiatives. We conclude that there are probably trade-offs to be made between the effectiveness of KT and the scientific robustness and validity of the information transmitted. RésuméCet article présente un cadre théorique et pratique pour l' évaluation des interventions qui visent à promouvoir l'utilisation de l'information dans la prise de décision organisationnelle. Le cadre intègre trois perspectives théoriques distinctes, mais complémen-taires, sur l'utilisation de l'information dans les systèmes politico-administratifs : (1) la littérature portant sur l'utilisation de l'information, (2) la réflexion actuelle sur le transfert de connaissances (TC) dans le domaine des politiques de santé et (3) les approches découlant de l' analyse du lobbying en science politique. L' analyse remet en question la pertinence de l' analyse des effets dans l' évaluation des initiatives de TC au niveau organisationnel ou politique, mais elle propose également des aspects dont devrait tenir compte une évaluation des initiatives de TC. Pour conclure, nous ajoutons qu'il est sans doute nécessaire de trouver un compromis entre, d'une part, l' efficacité du TC et, d' autre part, la validité et la rigueur scientifique des informations transmises.

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New Evidence on Instrumental, Conceptual, and Symbolic Utilization of University Research in Government Agencies

Cited by 354 publications

References 40 publications

Knowledge transfer activities in social sciences and humanities: Explaining the interactions of research groups with non-academic agents

Knowledge transfer activities in social sciences and humanities: Explaining the interactions of research groups with non-academic agents

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and the challenge of integrating social sciences and humanities

Evaluating Interventions Aimed at Promoting Information Utilization in Organizations and Systems

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