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What really matters for successful research environments? A realist synthesis
journal contribution
posted on 2018-09-01, 00:00 authored by Rola AjjawiRola Ajjawi, Paul E S Crampton, Charlotte E ReesCONTEXT: Research environments, or cultures, are thought to be the most influential predictors of research productivity. Although several narrative and systematic reviews have begun to identify the characteristics of research-favourable environments, these reviews have ignored the contextual complexities and multiplicity of environmental characteristics. OBJECTIVES: The current synthesis adopts a realist approach to explore what interventions work for whom and under what circumstances. METHODS: We conducted a realist synthesis of the international literature in medical education, education and medicine from 1992 to 2016, following five stages: (i) clarifying the scope; (ii) searching for evidence; (iii) assessing quality; (iv) extracting data, and (v) synthesising data. RESULTS: We identified numerous interventions relating to research strategy, people, income, infrastructure and facilities (IIF), and collaboration. These interventions resulted in positive or negative outcomes depending on the context and mechanisms fired. We identified diverse contexts at the individual and institutional levels, but found that disciplinary contexts were less influential. There were a multiplicity of positive and negative mechanisms, along with three cross-cutting mechanisms that regularly intersected: time; identity, and relationships. Outcomes varied widely and included both positive and negative outcomes across subjective (e.g. researcher identity) and objective (e.g. research quantity and quality) domains. CONCLUSIONS: The interplay among mechanisms and contexts is central to understanding the outcomes of specific interventions, bringing novel insights to the literature. Researchers, research leaders and research organisations should prioritise the protection of time for research, enculturate researcher identities, and develop collaborative relationships to better foster successful research environments. Future research should further explore the interplay among time, identity and relationships.
History
Journal
Medical education in reviewVolume
52Issue
9Pagination
936 - 950Publisher
John Wiley & SonsLocation
Chichester, Eng.Publisher DOI
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eISSN
1365-2923Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2018, The AuthorsUsage metrics
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Keywords
research environmentresearch cultureresearch productivitymedical educationSocial SciencesScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEducation, Scientific DisciplinesHealth Care Sciences & ServicesEducation & Educational ResearchMEDICAL-EDUCATION RESEARCHRESEARCH CAPACITYPRIMARY-CAREHEALTH RESEARCHERSCLINICAL-RESEARCHINTERVENTIONSEXPERIENCESACADEMICSEducation
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