ABSTRACT

Despite the growing trend of networking approaches in policymaking, the concept of collaborative policy networks (CPNs) and, in particular, the identification of their characteristics, remain a serious research vacuum. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to provide a model for identifying the characteristics of CPNs. For this purpose, the science and technology policy network in Iran was studied on a case-by-case basis. In this study, the theoretical framework of research was formulated as a sequential exploratory mixed design by first using literature review, policy documents analysis and in-depth interviews with 20 experts. Then, a survey was conducted by distributing a questionnaire among 100 science and technology policy experts and scholars in Iran. Data analysis was performed through confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation analysis method and, subsequently, the final research model was developed. The final model of CPNs consists of 17 characteristics in four dimensions of ‘actors’, ‘relationships among actors’, ‘structure’ and ‘the rules of conduct between actors’. Thus, the presence of such characteristics in the policy networks can lead to increased participation of actors and, of course, the effectiveness of policies.

摘要

尽管政策制定中网络化方法的趋势不断增长，但协作政策网络 (CPN) 的概念，特别是对其特征的识别，仍然是一个严重的研究真空。因此，本研究的主要目的是为识别 CPN 的特征提供一个模型。为此，逐案研究了伊朗的科技政策网络。本研究首先通过文献回顾、政策文件分析和对20位专家的深入访谈，将研究的理论框架制定为顺序探索性混合设计。然后，通过向伊朗100名科技政策专家和学者发放问卷的方式进行了调查。采用结构方程分析法通过验证性因子分析进行数据分析，随后开发出最终的研究模型。CPNs的最终模型由“行为者”、“行为者之间的关系”、“结构”和“行为者之间的行为规则”四个维度的17个特征组成。因此，政策网络中这些特征的存在可以增加参与者的参与，当然还有政策的有效性。