https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6263-797X
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ABSTRACT
Research management instruments (RMIs) are organizational mechanisms that shape scientific work and influence the trajectory of scientific fields within universities. This qualitative study examines 80 RMIs implemented by eight research-oriented universities in Chile between 1998 and 2021. The findings reveal that these institutions employ policies prioritizing competition as the primary means of accessing funding and opportunities, contributing to the concentration of resources among established researchers participating in international circuits. Consequently, RMIs establish hierarchies within the research community based on individual merit, disregarding the material conditions that may hinder productivity for certain actors. Furthermore, these instruments discourage participation in national and regional scientific communication networks. By highlighting the impact of RMIs, this research enhances our understanding of the organizational mechanisms that shape scientific work in Chilean universities, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities researchers face in the country’s higher education system. Future studies should explore alternative participation circuits within Chilean universities and compare experiences across Latin American regions to understand how local institutions align with global evaluation criteria.
RESUMO
Os instrumentos de gestão de pesquisa (IGPs) são mecanismos organizacionais que moldam o trabalho científico e influenciam a trajetória dos campos científicos nas universidades. Este estudo qualitativo examina 80 IGPs implementados por oito universidades de pesquisa no Chile entre 1998 e 2021. Os resultados revelam que essas instituições empregam políticas que priorizam a concorrência como o principal meio de acesso a financiamento e oportunidades, contribuindo para a concentração de recursos entre pesquisadores estabelecidos que participam de circuitos internacionais. Consequentemente, as IGPs estabelecem hierarquias dentro da comunidade de pesquisa com base no mérito individual, desconsiderando as condições materiais que podem dificultar a produtividade de determinados atores. Além disso, esses instrumentos desestimulam a participação em redes de comunicação científica nacionais e regionais. Ao destacar o impacto dos IGPs, esta pesquisa aumenta nossa compreensão dos mecanismos organizacionais que moldam o trabalho científico nas universidades chilenas, oferecendo percepções sobre os desafios e as oportunidades que os pesquisadores enfrentam no sistema de ensino superior do país. Estudos futuros devem explorar circuitos alternativos de participação nas universidades chilenas e comparar as experiências nas regiões da América Latina para entender como as instituições locais se alinham aos critérios de avaliação global.
RESUMEN
Los instrumentos de gestión de la investigación (IGI) son mecanismos organizacionales que dan forma al trabajo científico e influyen las trayectorias de campos científicos en universidades. Este estudio cualitativo examina 80 IGIs implementados en ocho universidades orientadas a la investigación en Chile entre 1998 y 2021. Los resultados revelan que estas instituciones usan políticas que priorizan la competencia entre pares como el principal medio para distribuir fondos y oportunidades de investigación, contribuyendo a la concentración de recursos entre investigadores establecidos que participan en circuitos internacionales. En consecuencia, los IGIs establecen jerarquías al interior de la comunidad de investigación basadas en el mérito individual, sin tener en cuenta las condiciones materiales que pueden obstaculizar la productividad para ciertos actores. Además, estos instrumentos desalientan la participación en redes de comunicación científica a nivel nacional y regional. Al resaltar el impacto de los IGIs, esta investigación aporta a nuestra comprensión de los mecanismos organizativos que dan forma al trabajo científico en las universidades chilenas, brindando información sobre los desafíos y oportunidades que enfrentan los investigadores en el sistema de educación superior del país. Futuros estudios debieran explorar circuitos alternativos de participación dentro de las universidades chilenas y comparar experiencias en diferentes regiones de América Latina para entender cómo las instituciones locales se alinean con los criterios de evaluación global.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Notes on contributors
David Marchant-Cavieres
David Marchant-Cavieres is a sociologist with a focus on the sociology of scientific work. He is an independent academic, actively pursuing a research agenda in this field.
Carla Fardella
Carla Fardella holds a Ph.D. in social psychology and specializes in social studies of work, higher education, and the transformation of production models. With a strong commitment to bridging research and practical applications, she has contributed to the formulation of public policies in higher education, the design of scientific career development programs, and the advancement of gender equity in education and science. Carla Fardella currently serves as a full professor at the University Andres Bello.
Fernando A. Valenzuela
Fernando A. Valenzuela is an Associate Professor at the School of Social Sciences, University Andrés Bello, Chile, where he also serves as the Director of the Sociology Program. He holds a Doctorate in Sociology from the Universität Luzern, Switzerland, and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Sociology from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. In his most recent projects, he has conducted research on the contemporary conditions of scientific work and explored the sociocultural dimensions of telemedicine.
Juan Felipe Espinosa-Cristia
Juan Felipe Espinosa-Cristia specializes in the field of management education, with a particular emphasis on knowledge production processes and the impact of technology on organizations and society. His research portfolio encompasses projects exploring technical mediation within banking environments and innovation management practices in both startup and established companies. Dr. Espinosa-Cristia currently holds the position of Associate Professor at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, and he earned his Doctorate in Management from the University of Leicester.
Paulina E. Varas
Paulina E. Varas is a specialist in the field of art theory and has authored numerous articles on contemporary Chilean and Latin American art. She has actively engaged in artistic endeavors, participating as an exhibitor, speaker, and lecturer. Dr. Varas holds the position of Full Professor and Researcher at the University Andrés Bello, and she earned her Ph.D. in Art History and Theory from the University of Barcelona.
Claudio Broitman
Claudio Broitman's research interests encompass a wide range of areas, including environmental communication, risk assessment, knowledge production, discourse analysis, and socio-technical controversies. Dr. Broitman holds the position of Associate Professor and serves as the Director of the School of Journalism at the University Andrés Bello. He earned his Ph.D. in Sciences de l'information et de la Communication from the Université Paris-Sorbonne.