A webmail survey of the impact of research evaluation on research agenda setting

The aim of the present work is to further the theoretical framework of the methodological proposal of the research we aim to conduct in order to study whether the sociologists’ research agenda setting process has been impacted by the implementation of research evaluation. This work aims to further deepen the current debate on the effects of research evaluation on researchers’ practices and strategies, as a result of the reconfigured role and tasks performed by academics. The purpose is to answer the research question by submitting to the target population a web self-administered survey. The survey will be structured on the basis of Horta and Santos’ model, namely the so-called MDRAI-R model, according to the operationalized concept of research agenda proposed by Ertmer and Glazewski. The model identifies two main research agenda setting approaches, that is, cohesive, identifying a less risky agenda setting approach, and trailblazing, namely a pioneering and discovery-oriented approach. We are thus going to discuss and select from the MDRAI-R dimensions and sub-dimensions the ones that best fit the purpose of identifying researchers’ agenda setting approach. The survey will be submitted to tenured sociology professors and sociology researchers with permanent contracts currently working for both private and public Italian universities, thus addressing people who allegedly have already participated in at least one evaluation exercise. The survey thus aims to understand whether there have been some changes in sociologists’ research agenda setting attitudes over the past ten years (that is, since 2011), as a consequence of the implementation of the second (2011-2014) and third (2015-2019) VQR (Valutazione della Qualità della Ricerca) cycles.