Semiquantitative methods for research impact assessment
1993; Elsevier BV; Volume: 44; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0040-1625(93)90070-n
ISSN1873-5509
Autores Tópico(s)Technology Assessment and Management
ResumoThree types of semiquantitative methods used by the federal government in research impact assessment are presented. These include the classic retrospective method (Project Hindsight), another retrospective approach (Project TRACES and follow-ons), and accomplishments books used by selected research-sponsoring organizations (Office of Naval Research, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Department of Energy Office of Health and Environmental Research, Department of Energy High Energy Physics Program, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). The strengths and weaknesses of each approach are discussed. One goal of all the studies presented was to identify the products of research and some of their impacts. In addition, the Hindsight, TRACES, and DARPA studies tried to identify factors that influenced the productivity and impact of research. The following general conclusions about the role and impact of basic research were reached: 1. The majority of basic research events that directly impacted technologies or systems were non-mission-oriented and occurred many decades before the technology or system emerged. 2. The cumulative indirect impacts of basic research were not accounted for by any of the retrospective approaches published. 3. An advanced pool of knowledge must be developed in many fields before synthesis leading to an innovation can occur. 4. Allocation of benefits among researchers, organizations, and funding agencies to determine economic returns from basic research is very difficult and arbitrary, especially at the micro level.
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