Factors influencing the use of institutional research studies from the researchers' perspective.

This study examines institutional researchers' perceptions of how decision-makers within postsecondary institutions use institutional research (IR) study findings, answering the research question, what factors influence how findings from IR studies are used by internal academic and administrative decision-makers? While research results are seldom the sole determinant of any decision, the effectiveness of an institutional researcher has been defined as the ability to influence policy and inform decisions. This study is grounded in knowledge utilization literature in general and evaluation research utilization literature in particular. A conceptual framework based on this literature guides this research. In this framework, utilization is examined in four dimensions: instrumental, process, conceptual, and symbolic use. Predictor variables of these four types of use are clustered within eight domains: institutional, research office, researcher, decision-maker, relationship between researcher and decision-maker, research process, researcher strategy, and decision-maker strategy characteristics. Data were gathered through an electronic survey administered to IR directors. These IR directors were asked to base their responses on a recent IR study that had been commissioned by their supervisor for decision-making purposes. Bivariate analyses, path analysis, and regression were used to determine how the independent variables in the eight domains relate to the four dimensions of use of the IR study findings. Process use is related to both barriers to implementing the study findings and the study's level of institutional importance. Conceptual use is related to the level of advice, mediums, and use management implemented by the researcher. Symbolic use is more likely within larger institutions, when there is not a match in disciplinary backgrounds between the researcher and decision-maker, and when there are budgetary or structural barriers to implementing the study findings. Instrumental use is more likely the higher the rank of the IR office, the more the findings were liked by a broad constituent base, and if there is a disciplinary match between the researcher and supervisor. Researchers can influence instrumental use of their study findings by becoming involved in their institution, communicating frequently with decision-makers, using qualitative methods, providing advice on use, and transmitting their findings through multiple mediums.Ph.D.EducationHigher educationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/124690/2/3016793.pd