Innovation and incentives : role of the research funder in knowledge translation and scaling science
Date
2020-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Research and innovation are vital to global sustainable development and human prosperity. However, it is well documented that the creation of knowledge does not ensure its effective and ethical application.
In fact, studies indicate that knowledge is converted into action in slow, haphazard, and inequitable ways.
This dissertation casts new light on this challenge by investigating an understudied component of
knowledge translation (KT), the role of the research funder.
This dissertation applied a multi-stream study design and mixed-methods data collection and analysis
strategy. The research used an Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT) approach which facilitated a
focused and dynamic investigation, at the same time promoting relevance and uptake with the intended
research-user, research funders. Stream one, Funders’ KT, initiates the dissertation using a single funder
case study to construct a KT-focused evaluation protocol, and an international empirical scan of 26 health
research funding agencies resulting in a state-of-the-art overview of how funders support KT. An
unexpected and significant finding was the lack of empirical evidence guiding funders’ KT support. From
this result, research streams two and three were born. Stream two, Scaling Science, investigates
facilitators of research impact using a large multi-project review and in-depth case studies. Results include
a typology of pathways to scale and four guiding principles for scaling impact. These innovations are
converted into an action-oriented tool that will help researchers build evidenced practices into their
research. Stream three, Research Quality Plus (RQ+), describes a novel evaluation framework for assessing
research quality with KT in mind. The RQ+ approach is implemented in seven funder-based evaluations
and the aggregate evaluation results are synthesized via meta-analysis. Results demonstrate that KT and
scientific rigour can be pursued, accomplished, and assessed as equally valued dimensions of research
quality. The validation of the RQ+ approach showcases a fresh and practical framework for funders and
other science systems actors interested in KT and scaling science.
Overall, the results of this dissertation fill a critical knowledge gap related to the role of the funder in
research translation and impact. In turn, they demonstrate original and significant contributions to global
academic knowledge and understanding of KT theory and practice. To convert this knowledge into action,
practical guidance is developed, elaborated, and validated.
ISISHWANKATHELO SESIXHOSA : Uphando neenguqu ezingobuchule zibalulekile kuphuhliso oluluqilima lwehlabathi jikelele nakwimpumelelo yabantu. Noko kunjalo, kushicilelwe ngokuthe gca ukuba ukudalwa kolwazi akuqinisekisi ukusebenza kwalo okukuko nokusetyenziswa kwalo kakuhle. Enyanisweni, izenzo zophononongo ziye zabonakalisa ukuba ulwazi luguqulwa ukuze lube ziintshukumo ngeendlela ezicothayo, ezingenacwangco nezingenabulungisa. Esi sincoko sakhela lo mngeni umkhanyo omtsha, ngokuphanda ngokungqalileyo inxalenye yoguqulo lolwazi (KT) esele iphononongwe kancinci, eyindima yomxhasi-ngezimali wophando. Esi sincoko sisebenzise uyilo lophononongo oluneenkalo eziliqela neqhinga lokuqokelela nokuhlalutya iinkcukacha elingengxubevange yemigaqo. Uphando luye lwaqhutywa ngokusebenzisa uGuqulo loLwazi ngokuHlangeneyo, -Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT), ukuxhasa imfaneleko nosetyenziso ngumsebenzisi wophando ekujoliswe kuye: abaxhasi-ngezimali bophando. Uyilo lophononongo lwe-IKT oluneenkalo eziliqela luye lwabangela uphando olungqalileyo noluguquguquka lula. Inkalo yokuqala, yabaxhasi-ngezimali yoGuqulo loLwazi, i-Funders’ KT, iqalisa esi sincoko ngokusebenzisa isishwankathelo nesikena esijoliswe kwimeko yehlabathi jikelele see-arhente zabaxhasi-ngezimali ezingama-26. Isiphumo ibe luphengululo lodidi oluphezulu lwendlela abaxhasi-ngezimali abaxhasa ngayo i-KT (uGuqulo loLwazi). Okuthe kwafunyaniswa obekungalindelekanga nokubalulekileyo kukunqongophala kobungqina obuphathekayo obukhokela inkxaso yabaxhasi-ngezimali ngokujoliswe kwi-KT. Kweso siphumo, kuye kwavela inkalo yophando yesibini neyesithathu. Inkalo yesibini, Inzululwazi yokuKala, i-Scaling Science, iphanda abachopheli beziphumo zophando ngokusebenzisa uphengululo lweeprojekthi eziliqela nezishwankathelo zophononongo ngokunzulu. Iziphumo ziquka uludwe lwemizila yokukala neenqobo ezine ezikhokelayo kwiziphumo zokalo. Konke oku kuguqulwa ukuze kube sisixhobo esisekelezwe kwiintshukumo. Inkalo yesithathu, umGangatho woPhando onoChatha, i-Research Quality Plus (RQ+), uchaza izikhokelo zovavanyo ezitsha nezingaqhelekanga zokuhlola umgangatho wophando kuthathelwa i-KT ingqalelo. Indlela ye-RQ+ imiselwa ngeemvavanyo ezisixhenxe ezisekelwe kubaxhasi-ngezimali ize iqinisekiswe ngohlalutyo lweziphumo eziliqela (meta-analysis). Usetyenziso lwe-RQ+, nokushicilelwa kwalo kwirekhodi yemfundo neyomsebenzi, zibalula imeko entsha nengaqhelekanga yokucingwa kwakhona kovavanyo lophando. Iziphumo zesi sincoko ziphuhlisa isiseko solwazi lwendlela abaxhasi-ngezimali abanokuxhasa ngayo i-KT, zize zivule imizila emitsha yemisebenzi namaphepha-nkqubo elungiselelwe abaxhasi-ngezimali nangaphezulu. Izindululo ziyondlalwa ngokufanelekileyo.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Navorsing en innovasie is noodsaaklik vir wêreldwye volhoubare ontwikkeling en menslike vooruitgang. Nietemin is dit bekend dat die skepping van kennis geen waarborg is dat dit doeltreffend en eties toegepas sal word nie. Trouens, studies dui daarop dat kennis betreklik stadig, lukraak en ongelyk in aksie omgeskakel word. Hierdie verhandeling werp nuwe lig op hierdie uitdaging deur die rol van die navorsingsfinansier, ’n weinig bestudeerde komponent van kennistoepassing (“knowledge translation”, of “KT”), van nader te bekyk. Die verhandeling gebruik ’n multistroomstudieontwerp en ’n gemengdemetodestrategie vir datainsameling en -ontleding. Die navorsing is met behulp van ’n geïntegreerde kennistoepassings- (“IKT”- )benadering onderneem om relevansie en benutting onder die beoogde eindgebruikers, synde navorsingsfinansiers, aan te moedig. Die IKT-multistroomontwerp het ’n toegespitste en dinamiese ondersoek tot gevolg gehad. Die verhandeling open met die eerste stroom, Funders’ KT, wat ’n gevallestudie en ’n internasionale empiriese verkenning van 26 finansieringsagentskappe behels. Die resultaat is ’n aktuele oorsig van hoe finansiers KT ondersteun. ’n Onverwagte en beduidende bevinding was die gebrek aan empiriese bewyse om as grondslag vir finansiers se KT-ondersteuning te dien. Uit hierdie resultaat is die tweede en derde navorsingstrome geskep. Die tweede stroom, Scaling Science, bestudeer die fasiliteerders van navorsingsimpak met behulp van ’n multiprojekoorsig en dieptegevallestudies. Resultate sluit ’n tipologie van skaleringsroetes en vier rigsnoere vir skaleringsimpak in. Dít word dan in ’n aksiegerigte instrument omskep. Die derde stroom, Research Quality Plus (RQ+), beskryf ’n innoverende evalueringsraamwerk om navorsingsgehalte met KT in gedagte te beoordeel. Die RQ+-benadering word in sewe finansiergebaseerde evaluerings geïmplementeer en deur middel van meta-ontleding gestaaf. Die RQ+-toepassing, en die beskrywing daarvan in die akademiese en praktykrekord, bied ’n vindingryke metode om nuut oor navorsingsevaluering te dink. Die bevindinge van die verhandeling bied ’n kundigheidsbasis vir hoe finansiers KT kan ondersteun, en skep nuwe praktyk- en beleidsroetes vir navorsingsfinansiers én ander rolspelers. Aanbevelings word dienooreenkomstig aangebied.
ISISHWANKATHELO SESIXHOSA : Uphando neenguqu ezingobuchule zibalulekile kuphuhliso oluluqilima lwehlabathi jikelele nakwimpumelelo yabantu. Noko kunjalo, kushicilelwe ngokuthe gca ukuba ukudalwa kolwazi akuqinisekisi ukusebenza kwalo okukuko nokusetyenziswa kwalo kakuhle. Enyanisweni, izenzo zophononongo ziye zabonakalisa ukuba ulwazi luguqulwa ukuze lube ziintshukumo ngeendlela ezicothayo, ezingenacwangco nezingenabulungisa. Esi sincoko sakhela lo mngeni umkhanyo omtsha, ngokuphanda ngokungqalileyo inxalenye yoguqulo lolwazi (KT) esele iphononongwe kancinci, eyindima yomxhasi-ngezimali wophando. Esi sincoko sisebenzise uyilo lophononongo oluneenkalo eziliqela neqhinga lokuqokelela nokuhlalutya iinkcukacha elingengxubevange yemigaqo. Uphando luye lwaqhutywa ngokusebenzisa uGuqulo loLwazi ngokuHlangeneyo, -Integrated Knowledge Translation (IKT), ukuxhasa imfaneleko nosetyenziso ngumsebenzisi wophando ekujoliswe kuye: abaxhasi-ngezimali bophando. Uyilo lophononongo lwe-IKT oluneenkalo eziliqela luye lwabangela uphando olungqalileyo noluguquguquka lula. Inkalo yokuqala, yabaxhasi-ngezimali yoGuqulo loLwazi, i-Funders’ KT, iqalisa esi sincoko ngokusebenzisa isishwankathelo nesikena esijoliswe kwimeko yehlabathi jikelele see-arhente zabaxhasi-ngezimali ezingama-26. Isiphumo ibe luphengululo lodidi oluphezulu lwendlela abaxhasi-ngezimali abaxhasa ngayo i-KT (uGuqulo loLwazi). Okuthe kwafunyaniswa obekungalindelekanga nokubalulekileyo kukunqongophala kobungqina obuphathekayo obukhokela inkxaso yabaxhasi-ngezimali ngokujoliswe kwi-KT. Kweso siphumo, kuye kwavela inkalo yophando yesibini neyesithathu. Inkalo yesibini, Inzululwazi yokuKala, i-Scaling Science, iphanda abachopheli beziphumo zophando ngokusebenzisa uphengululo lweeprojekthi eziliqela nezishwankathelo zophononongo ngokunzulu. Iziphumo ziquka uludwe lwemizila yokukala neenqobo ezine ezikhokelayo kwiziphumo zokalo. Konke oku kuguqulwa ukuze kube sisixhobo esisekelezwe kwiintshukumo. Inkalo yesithathu, umGangatho woPhando onoChatha, i-Research Quality Plus (RQ+), uchaza izikhokelo zovavanyo ezitsha nezingaqhelekanga zokuhlola umgangatho wophando kuthathelwa i-KT ingqalelo. Indlela ye-RQ+ imiselwa ngeemvavanyo ezisixhenxe ezisekelwe kubaxhasi-ngezimali ize iqinisekiswe ngohlalutyo lweziphumo eziliqela (meta-analysis). Usetyenziso lwe-RQ+, nokushicilelwa kwalo kwirekhodi yemfundo neyomsebenzi, zibalula imeko entsha nengaqhelekanga yokucingwa kwakhona kovavanyo lophando. Iziphumo zesi sincoko ziphuhlisa isiseko solwazi lwendlela abaxhasi-ngezimali abanokuxhasa ngayo i-KT, zize zivule imizila emitsha yemisebenzi namaphepha-nkqubo elungiselelwe abaxhasi-ngezimali nangaphezulu. Izindululo ziyondlalwa ngokufanelekileyo.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Navorsing en innovasie is noodsaaklik vir wêreldwye volhoubare ontwikkeling en menslike vooruitgang. Nietemin is dit bekend dat die skepping van kennis geen waarborg is dat dit doeltreffend en eties toegepas sal word nie. Trouens, studies dui daarop dat kennis betreklik stadig, lukraak en ongelyk in aksie omgeskakel word. Hierdie verhandeling werp nuwe lig op hierdie uitdaging deur die rol van die navorsingsfinansier, ’n weinig bestudeerde komponent van kennistoepassing (“knowledge translation”, of “KT”), van nader te bekyk. Die verhandeling gebruik ’n multistroomstudieontwerp en ’n gemengdemetodestrategie vir datainsameling en -ontleding. Die navorsing is met behulp van ’n geïntegreerde kennistoepassings- (“IKT”- )benadering onderneem om relevansie en benutting onder die beoogde eindgebruikers, synde navorsingsfinansiers, aan te moedig. Die IKT-multistroomontwerp het ’n toegespitste en dinamiese ondersoek tot gevolg gehad. Die verhandeling open met die eerste stroom, Funders’ KT, wat ’n gevallestudie en ’n internasionale empiriese verkenning van 26 finansieringsagentskappe behels. Die resultaat is ’n aktuele oorsig van hoe finansiers KT ondersteun. ’n Onverwagte en beduidende bevinding was die gebrek aan empiriese bewyse om as grondslag vir finansiers se KT-ondersteuning te dien. Uit hierdie resultaat is die tweede en derde navorsingstrome geskep. Die tweede stroom, Scaling Science, bestudeer die fasiliteerders van navorsingsimpak met behulp van ’n multiprojekoorsig en dieptegevallestudies. Resultate sluit ’n tipologie van skaleringsroetes en vier rigsnoere vir skaleringsimpak in. Dít word dan in ’n aksiegerigte instrument omskep. Die derde stroom, Research Quality Plus (RQ+), beskryf ’n innoverende evalueringsraamwerk om navorsingsgehalte met KT in gedagte te beoordeel. Die RQ+-benadering word in sewe finansiergebaseerde evaluerings geïmplementeer en deur middel van meta-ontleding gestaaf. Die RQ+-toepassing, en die beskrywing daarvan in die akademiese en praktykrekord, bied ’n vindingryke metode om nuut oor navorsingsevaluering te dink. Die bevindinge van die verhandeling bied ’n kundigheidsbasis vir hoe finansiers KT kan ondersteun, en skep nuwe praktyk- en beleidsroetes vir navorsingsfinansiers én ander rolspelers. Aanbevelings word dienooreenkomstig aangebied.
Description
Thesis (DMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
Keywords
Research -- Moral and ethical aspects, Knowledge translation, Research -- Finance, Technological innovations, Scaling (Social sciences), UCTD