The Range and Diversity of Innovations in the Research Strategies of Researchers in Policy Research Institutes of Iran

Policy research studies for decision-making support system can have an important contribution in the development of national innovation system policies with the aim of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of this system, especially in developing countries.The question is about the level and scope of innovative strategies of researchers in research institutes of science and higher education policy in Iran; and why such innovations are realized or not. A qualitative research was conducted with the participation of researchers from several institutions to discover their common lived experiences. According to the core concept of this research, researchers are in a "polar situation" on two paths. On the one hand, the structures, institutions, and contextual factors hinder them, and on the other hand, there are inadequacies in the researchers' own way of acting and their research initiatives that lowers the level and scope of researchers' innovations. Despite this, there are also intervening and adjusting variables that can overcome these obstacles and enable various innovative strategies. In the present study, this process has been causally explained and a set of innovations has been identified.Structures limit researchers' actions, but they cannot completely exclude their creative research initiatives from calculations and equations. According to the scope and diversity of their innovative research strategies in institutions, researchers can succeed in critical actions and institutional and structural changes.Structures limit researchers' actions, but they cannot completely exclude their creative research initiatives from calculations and equations. According to the scope and diversity of their innovative research strategies in institutions, researchers can succeed in critical actions and institutional and structural changes.