IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jtecht/v49y2024i4d10.1007_s10961-023-10040-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A micro-level study of research impact and motivational diversity

Author

Listed:
  • Arturo Vega

    (Newcastle University Business School)

  • Claudia Gabbioneta

    (University of York)

  • Carlos Osorio

    (University of Manizales)

  • James Cunningham

    (Newcastle University Business School)

Abstract

What motivates academics to pursue technology and knowledge transfer has been a growing area of research with recent calls for a deeper understanding of this issue. Technology and knowledge transfer are being positioned by policymakers and universities as part of the wider research impact agenda. Against this background, the purpose of this paper is to explore at a micro level the motivational diversity among academics in pursuing research impact. Set in a business school context, our study uses self-determination theory and an interpretive approach. We focus on the main motivations to be an academic in terms of the core psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, the consequent intrinsic or extrinsic motivations for research impact, and the attitudes towards institutional measures for this practice. We identified six research impact groups, practice-oriented researchers, business seekers, instrumentalists, compliers, theoreticians, and relationship facilitators. We also found some friction between the motivations to be an academic and for research impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Arturo Vega & Claudia Gabbioneta & Carlos Osorio & James Cunningham, 2024. "A micro-level study of research impact and motivational diversity," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1303-1346, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:49:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10961-023-10040-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-023-10040-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10961-023-10040-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10961-023-10040-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Civera, Alice & Meoli, Michele & Vismara, Silvio, 2020. "Engagement of academics in university technology transfer: Opportunity and necessity academic entrepreneurship," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    2. D’Este, Pablo & Robinson-García, Nicolás, 2023. "Interdisciplinary research and the societal visibility of science: The advantages of spanning multiple and distant scientific fields," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    3. Maximilian Goethner & Michael Wyrwich, 2020. "Cross-faculty proximity and academic entrepreneurship: the role of business schools," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(4), pages 1016-1062, August.
    4. Mike Wright & Evila Piva & Simon Mosey & Andy Lockett, 2009. "Academic entrepreneurship and business schools," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 34(6), pages 560-587, December.
    5. James A. Cunningham & Erik E. Lehmann & Matthias Menter, 2022. "The organizational architecture of entrepreneurial universities across the stages of entrepreneurship: a conceptual framework," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 11-27, June.
    6. Christopher Hayter, 2015. "Public or private entrepreneurship? Revisiting motivations and definitions of success among academic entrepreneurs," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 40(6), pages 1003-1015, December.
    7. Matthias Menter & Erik E. Lehmann & Torben Klarl, 2018. "In search of excellence: a case study of the first excellence initiative of Germany," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 88(9), pages 1105-1132, December.
    8. James Cunningham & Paul O’Reilly & Conor O’Kane & Vincent Mangematin, 2014. "The inhibiting factors that principal investigators experience in leading publicly funded research," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 93-110, February.
    9. Christoph Grimpe & Heide Fier, 2010. "Informal university technology transfer: a comparison between the United States and Germany," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 35(6), pages 637-650, December.
    10. Matthias Menter, 2022. "Entrepreneurial universities and innovative behavior: the impact of gender diversity," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1-2), pages 20-34, February.
    11. Leonie Drooge & Jack Spaapen, 2022. "Evaluation and monitoring of transdisciplinary collaborations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 747-761, June.
    12. Krabel, Stefan & Mueller, Pamela, 2009. "What drives scientists to start their own company?: An empirical investigation of Max Planck Society scientists," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(6), pages 947-956, July.
    13. M. Wright, 2012. "Academic Entrepreneurship, Technology Transfer and Society: Where Next?," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 12/801, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    14. James A. Cunningham & Matthias Menter & Chris Young, 2017. "A review of qualitative case methods trends and themes used in technology transfer research," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 923-956, August.
    15. Link, Albert N. & Swann, Christopher A. & Bozeman, Barry, 2008. "A time allocation study of university faculty," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 363-374, August.
    16. Linda H M van de Burgwal & Rana Hendrikse & Eric Claassen, 2019. "Aiming for impact: Differential effect of motivational drivers on effort and performance in knowledge valorisation," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 46(5), pages 747-762.
    17. Maria Abreu & Vadim Grinevich, 2017. "Gender patterns in academic entrepreneurship," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 763-794, August.
    18. James A. Cunningham & Paul O’Reilly & Conor O’Kane & Vincent Mangematin, 2016. "Publicly Funded Principal Investigators as Transformative Agents of Public Sector Entrepreneurship," International Studies in Entrepreneurship, in: David B. Audretsch & Albert N. Link (ed.), Essays in Public Sector Entrepreneurship, edition 1, chapter 0, pages 67-94, Springer.
    19. Farhat Chowdhury & Albert N. Link & Martijn Hasselt, 2022. "Public support for research in artificial intelligence: a descriptive study of U.S. Department of Defense SBIR Projects," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 762-774, June.
    20. Riccardo Fini & Einar Rasmussen & Johan Wiklund & Mike Wright, 2019. "Theories from the Lab: How Research on Science Commercialization can Contribute to Management Studies," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(5), pages 865-894, July.
    21. Owen Hogan & Michael A. Kortt & Michael B. Charles, 2021. "Mission Impossible? Are Australian Business Schools Creating Public Value?," International Journal of Public Administration, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(4), pages 280-289, March.
    22. James A. Cunningham & Alejandro Escribá-Esteve & María José Foncubierta-Rodríguez & Fernando Martín-Alcázar & José Luis Perea-Vicente, 2022. "A gender study of principal investigator lead public R&D centres and funding," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1-2), pages 54-69, February.
    23. Rebora, Gianfranco & Turri, Matteo, 2013. "The UK and Italian research assessment exercises face to face," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(9), pages 1657-1666.
    24. Dennis Patrick Leyden & Matthias Menter, 2018. "The legacy and promise of Vannevar Bush: rethinking the model of innovation and the role of public policy," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(3), pages 225-242, April.
    25. Estabrooks, Carole A. & Norton, Peter & Birdsell, Judy M. & Newton, Mandi S. & Adewale, Adeniyi J. & Thornley, Richard, 2008. "Knowledge translation and research careers: Mode I and Mode II activity among health researchers," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6-7), pages 1066-1078, July.
    26. James A. Cunningham & Paul O’Reilly & Brendan Dolan & Conor O’Kane & Vincent Mangematin, 2016. "Publicly funded principal investigators allocation of time for public sector entrepreneurship activities," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 43(4), pages 383-408, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. James A. Cunningham & Kristel Miller & Jose-Luis Perea-Vicente, 2024. "Academic entrepreneurship in the humanities and social sciences: a systematic literature review and research agenda," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(5), pages 1880-1913, October.
    2. James A. Cunningham & Erik E. Lehmann & Matthias Menter & Nikolaus Seitz, 2019. "The impact of university focused technology transfer policies on regional innovation and entrepreneurship," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(5), pages 1451-1475, October.
    3. Stefan Hossinger & Jörn Block & Xiangyu Chen & Arndt Werner, 2023. "Venture creation patterns in academic entrepreneurship: the role of founder motivations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 68-125, February.
    4. Freel, Mark & Persaud, Ajax & Chamberlin, Tyler, 2019. "Faculty ideals and universities' third mission," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 10-21.
    5. Maribel Guerrero & Matthias Menter, 2024. "Driving change in higher education: the role of dynamic capabilities in strengthening universities’ third mission," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(3), pages 1321-1337, October.
    6. Rajeev K. Goel & Devrim Göktepe-Hultén & Christoph Grimpe, 2017. "Who instigates university–industry collaborations? University scientists versus firm employees," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 503-524, March.
    7. James A. Cunningham & Paul O’Reilly, 2018. "Macro, meso and micro perspectives of technology transfer," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 545-557, June.
    8. James Cunningham & Paul O'Reilly, 2019. "Roles and Responsibilities of Project Coordinators: A Contingency Model for Project Coordinator Effectiveness," JRC Research Reports JRC117576, Joint Research Centre.
    9. Stefan Marc Hossinger & Xiangyu Chen & Arndt Werner, 2020. "Drivers, barriers and success factors of academic spin-offs: a systematic literature review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 70(1), pages 97-134, February.
    10. Davide Hahn & Tommaso Minola & Silvio Vismara & Daniel Agyare, 2024. "Do exploration and exploitation in university research drive early-stage equity financing of university spin-offs?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 627-653, August.
    11. Hooman Abootorabi & Raj K. Shankar & Einar Rasmussen & Johan Wiklund, 2024. "Do Hybrid Goals Pay off? Social and Economic Goals in Academic Spin‐Offs," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(1), pages 110-140, January.
    12. Véronique Schaeffer & Sıla Öcalan-Özel & Julien Pénin, 2020. "The complementarities between formal and informal channels of university–industry knowledge transfer: a longitudinal approach," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 31-55, February.
    13. Modic, Dolores & Suklan, Jana, 2023. "Intellectual property coordinators' cohorts: A study into the imprints in university technology transfer," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(8).
    14. Civera, Alice & Lehmann, Erik E. & Paleari, Stefano & Stockinger, Sarah A.E., 2020. "Higher education policy: Why hope for quality when rewarding quantity?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(8).
    15. Perkmann, Markus & Tartari, Valentina & McKelvey, Maureen & Autio, Erkko & Broström, Anders & D’Este, Pablo & Fini, Riccardo & Geuna, Aldo & Grimaldi, Rosa & Hughes, Alan & Krabel, Stefan & Kitson, Mi, 2013. "Academic engagement and commercialisation: A review of the literature on university–industry relations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 423-442.
    16. Dipan Kumar Sahu & Sucheta Pawar & Prerna Gaur & Sudhir K. Jain, 2023. "Entrepreneurial Engagement of Faculty in Higher Educational Institutions: A Review of Literature 2011–2023," Paradigm, , vol. 27(2), pages 153-171, December.
    17. O'Kane, Conor & Mangematin, Vincent & Zhang, Jing A. & Cunningham, James A., 2020. "How university-based principal investigators shape a hybrid role identity," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    18. Kadigia Faccin & Christle Beer & Bibiana Volkmer Martins & Grabriela Zanandrea & Neta Kela & Corne Schutte, 2022. "What really matters for TTOs efficiency? An analysis of TTOs in developed and developing economies," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 1135-1161, August.
    19. María José Foncubierta-Rodríguez & Fernando Martín-Alcázar & José Luis Perea-Vicente, 2023. "A typology of principal investigators based on their human capital: an exploratory analysis," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 932-954, June.
    20. Clovia Hamilton & Simon P. Philbin, 2020. "Knowledge Based View of University Tech Transfer—A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-28, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technology transfer; Knowledge transfer; Motivation; Research impact; Self-determination theory; Business schools;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:49:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10961-023-10040-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.