Developing a Model for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Academic Research: A Meta-Synthesis Study

The main goal of the present research was to design a model for evaluating the effectiveness of university research, which was achieved using the meta-synthesis method. First, with the aim of identifying the dimensions, criteria and indicators of the effectiveness of academic research, selected keywords were searched in the most important domestic and foreign reliable academic journals and databases and the number of 262 related studies was identified and extracted among which 30 related scientific studies were selected according to using certain criteria. In the next step, with applying the method of content analysis, the related codes and concepts were extracted and then criteria and indicators related to each of the dimensions were identified and the findings were categorized upon them. Then, the key findings under the three dimensions of "inputs, outputs and effectiveness (internal and external aspects)" of academic research were compiled. The results showed that this proposed multidimensional and integrated model is unique and can be considered as an effective tool for evaluating the effectiveness of academic research at the disposal of researchers, policy makers and practitioners. Its application and implementation can improve the quality of decision-making process as well as the resource allocation decisions at different operational levels of the university.