Identifying the native dimensions, components and indicators of research performance evaluation in university (A case study: Islamic Azad University in Tehran)

The present qualitative study aimed to identify the dimensions, components and indicators of research performance evaluation in Islamic Azad Comprehensive Universities of Tehran. Therefore, in the present study by literature and background of research, it was conducted to identify the factors influencing the performance evaluation of the university's research field and then by interviewing the experts and specialists of the field of research and performance evaluation and through three stages of coding (open, axial and interpretive), components and indicators of research performance have been identified.

The method of this research is applied development and in terms of performance is phenomenological, and also it has a qualitative approach in terms of data collection. Data collection tools were structured interviews with experts and specialists in research and performance evaluation. The data collection on the purposeful method of snowball sampling has continued until the theoretical saturation was reached. The data or the number of 12 experts has reached theoretical saturation and the data analysis process was carried out using the Corbin's Stross strategy.

The results of structured interview and its analysis in a qualitative manner through three coding stages, showed that evaluation of research performance in Islamic Azad universities affiliated to the three dimensions including: 1-Input with three components (a Component of the role of human resources (including 8 indicators), b) Management role and leadership component (including 5 indicators), C) The component of role of the infrastructure (consisting of 3 indicators), 2- Processes dimension with five components (a  the component of establishing motivation system and appropriate reward in the field of research activity (including 6 indicators), B) the component of knowledge promotion, insights and research skills (including 3 indicators), c) The component morality and observing national and professional values (including 3 indicators), D) the component of innovation, creativity and employment (including 3 indicators), E) The component of the use of collective wisdom, group and participatory activities (consisting of 3 indicators), 3- Results dimension includes a) the research effectiveness component (including 4 indicators), B) The competitive of the research component (consisting of 3 indicators), C)  Income generation component through research (including 3 indicators)  and D) Quantity and quality of activities and products of research (including 4 indicators). In total, triple dimension of research performance evaluation included 12 components and 48 indicators. Since the evaluation of the center of gravity of all policies and strategies of quality improvement is considered to improve the quality of one of the most important measures, and the assessment requires that the index is able to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the organization in addition to determining the efficiency and effectiveness, and provide the ways to resolve existing weaknesses. Findings of this study with a systematic review and considering the local indicators, theoretical and practical approaches to the qualitatively, planners and managers of university to identify the points of improvement in research performance and can be a platform in order to prepare its quality promotion.