Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The viability of a research programme is dependent on its sustainability. The life
span of a programme is determined by the sustainability achieved as a result of its
activities. Within any successful research initiative, there is a progression from the
research findings to the implementation of those findings.
This study examines the effect that the implementation of research findings has on
the initiation of new research projects within a research programme. The distinctions
between academic research programmes and the implementation of the research
findings were identified. By unobtrusively applying these definitions to a process of
self-evaluation, a theoretical model was identified for the evaluation of the University
of the Witwatersrand Refugee Research Programme and one of its projects.
Advocacy research, which focused on policy intervention, was not seen as being
sustainable as a programme output, as it is dependent on funding. Sustainability in
advocacy is linked to research skills enabling pilot intervention. Pilot intervention in
tum requires funding that research programmes sometimes use for their basic
survival. This should not be interpreted as contributing to the sustainability of the
research programme as funding activities are driven by the needs of the pilot
intervention. This is significant as these needs can through demands from the
funders of pilot intervention, contribute to changes in policies, goals and objectives of
the research programme.
It was found that the progression to implementation within a rural academic research
programme does limit the initiation of new research proposals. Research initiatives
tend to become tools of funding agencies with the focus being placed on the
implementation of the research findings.
This study recommends that the implementation of research findings should be
limited to pilot projects, that there should be defined time frames for pilot
implementation and, that there should be a clear division of responsibility between
research activity and pilot implementation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Om lewensvatbaar te wees moet 'n navorsingsprogram gehandhaaf kan word. Die
lewensduur van 'n program word bepaal deur sy handhawing as gevolg van sy
aktiwiteite. Binne enige suksesvolle navorsingsinisiatief is daar 'n progressie van
navorsingsbevindings tot die implementering van daardie bevindings.
In hierdie studie word die effek van implementering van navorsingsbevindings op
inisieëring van nuwe navorsingsprojekte binne 'n navorsingsprogram ondersoek. Die
verskil tussen akademiese navorsingsprogramme en die implementering van
navorsingsbevindings is geïdentifiseer. Deur op 'n onopvallende wyse hierdie
definisies toe te pas op 'n proses van selfevaluasie is 'n teoretiese model
geïdentifiseer wat gebruik is om die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand se Vlugteling
Navorsingsprogram en een van sy projekte te evalueer.
Voorspraaknavorsing wat fokus op beleidsintervensie is nie gesien as handhaafbaar
in terme van programopbrengs nie aangesien dit afhanklik is van befondsing.
Handhawing van voorspraak is gekoppel aan navorsingsbekwaamheid wat dit
moontlik sal maak om intervensie te loods. Intervensie loodsing op sy beurt benodig
befondsing wat soms deur navorsingsprogramme gebruik word vir hul eie oorlewing.
Dit moet nie gesien word as bydraend tot die handhawing van die navorsingsprojek
nie, want befondsingsaktiwiteite word gedryf deur die benodighede van die
intervensie. Dit is belangrik aangesien hierdie behoeftes deur die eise van die
befondsers van die intervensie kan bydra tot veranderinge in beleid en doelwitte van
die navorsingsprogram.
Dit is bevind dat die progressie tot implementering binne 'n landelik akademiese
navorsingsprogram inisieëring van nuwe navorsingsvoorstelle beperk.
Navorsingsinisiatiewe neig om middels van befondsingsagentskappe te word met die
plasing van die fokus op die implementering van die navorsingsbevindings.
Hierdie studie beveel aan dat die implementering van navorsingsbevindings tot loods
projekte beperk moet word, dat daar 'n gedefinieerde tydraamwerk vir
implementering van loodsprojekte moet wees en dat daar 'n duidelike verdeling van
verantwoordelikheid tussen navorsingaktiwiteite en loodsprojek implementasie moet
wees.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52109 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Wright, Alan |
| Contributors | Theron, Francois, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 77 p.: ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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