Composing Self-evaluation Tools for Knowledge Translation Related to Social Science Researchers

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD student, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objective: One of the accelerating factors in science cycle is knowledge translation which refers to exchange, synthesis and application of research results due to complex interrelationships between researchers and knowledge users. The current research was conducted to compose self-evaluation tools to assess knowledge translation activities of these researchers.
Methodology: This research is of qualitative phenomenological nature, using semi-designed interview. In this research 21 faculty members of different branches of social sciences in universities administrated by the "Ministry of Science, Research and Technology" were interviewed. These researchers have conducted the majority of researches in their respective fields. Validity of the results was confirmed via validation techniques by members and colleague investigation.
Findings: After encoding, classification and data analysis, an instrument was designed according to five main points, namely research problem, research results, knowledge transfer, knowledge sharing and knowledge application. In composing the tools options, in order to show the concordance of each option to the appropriate situation in knowledge translation; a five-point scale was used. This research outlines the requisite principles and intermediate links between "knowledge production" and "knowledge utilization" with which one can identify the gaps between "applications of knowledge-derived research" and "knowledge production".

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