Iranian Higher Education
Volume 18, Issue 3 (2026)
ihej 2026, 18(3): 118-142 |
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Mousavi S, Saeedi A, Zamani A. A Typological Analysis of the Strategic Research Agendas of Faculty Members at Iran's Public State Universities. , ihej. 2026; 18 (3) :118-142
URL: http://ihej.ir/article-1-2206-en.html
URL: http://ihej.ir/article-1-2206-en.html
1- Assistant professor, Department of Higher Education Management Studies, Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran. , s.mousavi@irphe.ac.ir
2- Assistant professor, Department of Statistical Research and Information Technology, Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran
3- Associate Professor, Department of Higher Education Management Studies, Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran & Department of Higher Education Management Studies, Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran
2- Assistant professor, Department of Statistical Research and Information Technology, Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran
3- Associate Professor, Department of Higher Education Management Studies, Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran & Department of Higher Education Management Studies, Institute for Research and Planning in Higher Education, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (13 Views)
Objective: Objective: Higher education plays a key role in development; however, a gap exists between academic research and the needs of society. While domestic literature has identified the barriers contributing to this gap, it has often treated faculty members as a homogeneous group and failed to assess their research agendas using standardized instruments. This study identifies the dimensions of these research agendas and the typologies of faculty members, while examining the extent of a "society-oriented" focus within each type.
Method: A quantitative survey design employing latent variable modelling was used. 436 full-time faculty members from seven public universities in Tehran (≈30% response) completed the Multi-Dimensional Research Agendas Inventory-Revised (eight dimensions; α = 0.831). Latent profiles were estimated in Stata; AIC, BIC and interpretability determined their number.
Results: Three distinct profiles were identified: "Balanced-Progressive" (58.26%), characterized by high ambition and moderate levels of both academic and societal orientation; "Traditional-Conservative" (23.85%), marked by the lowest levels of collaboration and societal orientation; and "Society-Discovery-Oriented" (17.89%), which exhibits the highest levels of discovery and societal orientation. Scientific ambition yielded the highest mean score (3.35), while societal orientation remained below the scale midpoint (2.68). Discovery and societal orientation were found to be correlated (r = 0.413), suggesting that they are complementary rather than competing.
Conclusion: Through a Bourdieusian lens, publication-based capital emerges as the dominant form of capital within the Iranian research field—shared across all three identified types—whereas a focus on societal engagement does not yet constitute a form of legitimate capital. The "traditional-conservative" type reproduces this dominant capital, while the "society-discovery-oriented" type adopts a subversive stance. Societal engagement is not the primary priority for any of these types; the issue lies in the failure to activate a latent capacity, rather than a lack of inclination. Interventions must be tailored to each specific type; recommended measures include redesigning promotion criteria, diversifying research pathways, fostering inter-sectoral coordination, and establishing interdisciplinary centers
Method: A quantitative survey design employing latent variable modelling was used. 436 full-time faculty members from seven public universities in Tehran (≈30% response) completed the Multi-Dimensional Research Agendas Inventory-Revised (eight dimensions; α = 0.831). Latent profiles were estimated in Stata; AIC, BIC and interpretability determined their number.
Results: Three distinct profiles were identified: "Balanced-Progressive" (58.26%), characterized by high ambition and moderate levels of both academic and societal orientation; "Traditional-Conservative" (23.85%), marked by the lowest levels of collaboration and societal orientation; and "Society-Discovery-Oriented" (17.89%), which exhibits the highest levels of discovery and societal orientation. Scientific ambition yielded the highest mean score (3.35), while societal orientation remained below the scale midpoint (2.68). Discovery and societal orientation were found to be correlated (r = 0.413), suggesting that they are complementary rather than competing.
Conclusion: Through a Bourdieusian lens, publication-based capital emerges as the dominant form of capital within the Iranian research field—shared across all three identified types—whereas a focus on societal engagement does not yet constitute a form of legitimate capital. The "traditional-conservative" type reproduces this dominant capital, while the "society-discovery-oriented" type adopts a subversive stance. Societal engagement is not the primary priority for any of these types; the issue lies in the failure to activate a latent capacity, rather than a lack of inclination. Interventions must be tailored to each specific type; recommended measures include redesigning promotion criteria, diversifying research pathways, fostering inter-sectoral coordination, and establishing interdisciplinary centers
Keywords: strategic research agenda, research evaluation system, alignment of research with the needs of the society, faculty members
Type of article: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/05/21 | Accepted: 2026/11/1 | ePublished ahead of print: 2026/11/2
Received: 2026/05/21 | Accepted: 2026/11/1 | ePublished ahead of print: 2026/11/2
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