<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec><h3>Purpose</h3><p>In studies of the research process, the association between how researchers conceptualize research and their strategic research agendas has been largely overlooked. This study aims to address this gap.</p></sec><sec><h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3><p>This study analyzes this relationship using a dataset of more than 8,500 researchers across all scientific fields and the globe. It studies the associations between the dimensions of two inventories: the Conceptions of Research Inventory (CoRI) and the Multi-Dimensional Research Agenda Inventory—Revised (MDRAI-R).</p></sec><sec><h3>Findings</h3><p>The findings show a relatively strong association between researchers’ conceptions of research and their research agendas. While all conceptions of research are positively related to scientific ambition, the findings are mixed regarding how the dimensions of the two inventories relate to one another, which is significant for those seeking to understand the knowledge production process better.</p></sec><sec><h3>Research limitations</h3><p>The study relies on self-reported data, which always carries a risk of response bias.</p></sec><sec><h3>Practical implications</h3><p>The findings provide a greater understanding of the inner workings of knowledge processes and indicate that the two inventories, whether used individually or in combination, may provide complementary analytical perspectives to research performance indicators. They may thus offer important insights for managers of research environments regarding how to assess the research culture, beliefs, and conceptualizations of individual researchers and research teams when designing strategies to promote specific institutional research focuses and strategies.</p></sec><sec><h3>Originality/value</h3><p>To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to associate research agendas and conceptions of research. It is based on a large sample of researchers working worldwide and in all fields of knowledge, which ensures that the findings have a reasonable degree of generalizability to the global population of researchers.</p></sec></abstract>

PurposeIn studies of the research process, the association between how researchers conceptualize research and their strategic research agendas has been largely overlooked. This study aims to address this gap.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzes this relationship using a dataset of more than 8,500 researchers across all scientific fields and the globe. It studies the associations between the dimensions of two inventories: the Conceptions of Research Inventory (CoRI) and the Multi-Dimensional Research Agenda Inventory—Revised (MDRAI-R).FindingsThe findings show a relatively strong association between researchers’ conceptions of research and their research agendas. While all conceptions of research are positively related to scientific ambition, the findings are mixed regarding how the dimensions of the two inventories relate to one another, which is significant for those seeking to understand the knowledge production process better.Research limitationsThe study relies on self-reported data, which always carries a risk of response bias.Practical implicationsThe findings provide a greater understanding of the inner workings of knowledge processes and indicate that the two inventories, whether used individually or in combination, may provide complementary analytical perspectives to research performance indicators. They may thus offer important insights for managers of research environments regarding how to assess the research culture, beliefs, and conceptualizations of individual researchers and research teams when designing strategies to promote specific institutional research focuses and strategies.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to associate research agendas and conceptions of research. It is based on a large sample of researchers working worldwide and in all fields of knowledge, which ensures that the findings have a reasonable degree of generalizability to the global population of researchers.

The Association between Researchers’ Conceptions of Research and Their Strategic Research Agendas

Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL)

Social Contexts and Policies of Education, Faculty of Education

Journal of Data and Information Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

PurposeIn studies of the research process, the association between how researchers conceptualize research and their strategic research agendas has been largely...

The Association between Researchers’ Conceptions of Research and Their Strategic Research Agendas

Article Category: Research Paper

Published Online: Nov 21, 2020

Page range: 56 - 74

Received: Jan 09, 2020

Accepted: Jul 20, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jdis-2020-0032

Keywords
Conception of research, Research agendas, Researchers’ beliefs, Research strategy, Views of research, Research processes

© 2020 João M. Santos et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Association between Researchers’ Conceptions of Research and Their Strategic Research Agendas

Article Category: Research Paper

Published Online: Nov 21, 2020

Page range: 56 - 74

Received: Jan 09, 2020

Accepted: Jul 20, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jdis-2020-0032

KeywordsConception of research, Research agendas, Researchers’ beliefs, Research strategy, Views of research, Research processes

© 2020 João M. Santos et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Conception of research, Research agendas, Researchers’ beliefs, Research strategy, Views of research, Research processes