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Opening the black box of impact – Ideal-type impact pathways in a public agricultural research organization

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  • Matt, M.
  • Gaunand, A.
  • Joly, P-B.
  • Colinet, L.

Abstract

This paper develops a renewed research impact assessment approach that goes beyond the traditional computation of internal rates of returns but allows collective learning, understanding and guiding systems transformation. Our approach (ASIRPA) builds on the broader research impact assessment literature which discusses impact-generating mechanisms in nonlinear dynamic processes. The main originality of ASIRPA is that it is based on a theory of innovation inspired by Actor Network Theory and a standardized ex-post case study methodology. Standardized case studies allow systematic codification of the variables for each case study, and the building of four ideal-type impact pathways. Each of these ideal-types is characterized by specific translation mechanisms, critical points, research and adoption networks, research outputs, and impacts. Our analytical framework and empirical analysis provide new insights into the contribution of an agricultural Public Research Organization to impact generation, and the role of users and networks in impact pathways.

Suggested Citation

  • Matt, M. & Gaunand, A. & Joly, P-B. & Colinet, L., 2017. "Opening the black box of impact – Ideal-type impact pathways in a public agricultural research organization," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 207-218.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:46:y:2017:i:1:p:207-218
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2016.09.016
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    2. Genowefa Blundo-Canto & Bernard Triomphe & Guy Faure & Danielle Barret & Aurelle de Romemont & Etienne Hainzelin, 2019. "Building a culture of impact in an international agricultural research organization: Process and reflective learning," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 28(2), pages 136-144.
    3. Nuno Oliveira & Davide Secchi, 2023. "Theory Building, Case Dependence, and Researchers’ Bounded Rationality: An Illustration From Studies of Innovation Diffusion," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 52(2), pages 993-1042, May.
    4. S. Wigboldus & M. A. McEwan & B. van Schagen & I. Okike & T. A. van Mourik & A. Rietveld & T. Amole & F. Asfaw & M. C. Hundayehu & F. Iradukunda & P. Kulakow & S. Namanda & I. Suleman & B. R. Wimba, 2023. "Understanding capacities to scale innovations for sustainable development: a learning journey of scaling partnerships in three parts of Africa," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 8197-8231, August.
    5. Reed, M.S. & Ferré, M. & Martin-Ortega, J. & Blanche, R. & Lawford-Rolfe, R. & Dallimer, M. & Holden, J., 2021. "Evaluating impact from research: A methodological framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(4).
    6. A. Gaunand & L. Colinet & P.-B. Joly & M. Matt, 2022. "Counting what really counts? Assessing the political impact of science," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 699-721, June.
    7. Ciarli, Tommaso & Ràfols, Ismael, 2019. "The relation between research priorities and societal demands: The case of rice," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 949-967.
    8. Molas-Gallart, Jordi & Woolley, Richard, 2022. "Research impact seen from the user side," INGENIO (CSIC-UPV) Working Paper Series 202201, INGENIO (CSIC-UPV).
    9. Andrea Bonaccorsi & Filippo Chiarello & Gualtiero Fantoni, 2021. "Impact for whom? Mapping the users of public research with lexicon-based text mining," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(2), pages 1745-1774, February.
    10. Toffolini, Quentin & Hannachi, Mourad & Capitaine, Mathieu & Cerf, Marianne, 2023. "Ideal-types of experimentation practices in agricultural Living Labs: Various appropriations of an open innovation model," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    11. Dotti, Nicola Francesco & Walczyk, Julia, 2022. "What is the societal impact of university research? A policy-oriented review to map approaches, identify monitoring methods and success factors," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    12. Jorrit P Smit & Laurens K Hessels, 2021. "The production of scientific and societal value in research evaluation: a review of societal impact assessment methods [Systems Thinking, Knowledge and Action: Towards Better Models and Methods]," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 30(3), pages 323-335.
    13. vom Brocke, Kirsten & Kondombo, Clarisse Pulcherie & Guillet, Marion & Kaboré, Roger & Sidibé, Adama & Temple, Ludovic & Trouche, Gilles, 2020. "Impact of participatory sorghum breeding in Burkina Faso," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    14. Silje Maria Tellmann & Magnus Gulbrandsen, 2022. "The other side of the boundary: Productive interactions seen from the policy side [Rethinking Policy ‘Impact’: Four Models of Research-Policy Relations]," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 49(4), pages 621-631.
    15. Dominique Barjolle & Peter Midmore & Otto Schmid, 2018. "Tracing the Pathways from Research to Innovation: Evidence from Case Studies," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 17(1), pages 11-18, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public agricultural research; Societal impact; Impact pathways; Ideal-types; Evaluation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • C39 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Other

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