TY - JOUR
T1 - Tokamaks and turbulence
T2 - Research ensembles, policy and technoscientific work
AU - Hackett, Edward J.
AU - Conz, David
AU - Parker, John
AU - Bashford, Jonathon
AU - DeLay, Susan
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by Grant SBE 9896330 from the US National Science Foundation. The authors alone are responsible for the ideas, analyses, interpretations, and recommendations expressed in this paper. We are particularly grateful to the researchers at CTX and MAT who generously took part in our study, and to Lori Fournier and Franco Medeiros who helped with the initial survey analysis. Barry Bozeman, Vincent Mangematin, and Juan Rogers provided especially thoughtful, thorough, and helpful comments on drafts of the manuscript.
PY - 2004/7
Y1 - 2004/7
N2 - A comparative analysis of two fusion energy research facilities is used to examine how the ensemble of research technologies (materials, methods, instruments, techniques, and the like) constructed and used by a group not only connects the group to other researchers and policymakers but also influences the group's trajectory, performance, and the work of its members. We use a combination of historical, interview, and questionnaire data to describe the two facilities, position them within the field, and examine the working conditions and job satisfaction of their members. We develop the idea of research ensemble, characterize it in comparison with related concepts, explain how it reflects policy priorities and provides a new way for research groups to accumulate advantage and disadvantage. Using multiple regression models, we demonstrate how differences in research ensembles lead to differences in working conditions and job satisfactions. Some implications are proposed for policy in fast-changing, large-scale fields of science and technology.
AB - A comparative analysis of two fusion energy research facilities is used to examine how the ensemble of research technologies (materials, methods, instruments, techniques, and the like) constructed and used by a group not only connects the group to other researchers and policymakers but also influences the group's trajectory, performance, and the work of its members. We use a combination of historical, interview, and questionnaire data to describe the two facilities, position them within the field, and examine the working conditions and job satisfaction of their members. We develop the idea of research ensemble, characterize it in comparison with related concepts, explain how it reflects policy priorities and provides a new way for research groups to accumulate advantage and disadvantage. Using multiple regression models, we demonstrate how differences in research ensembles lead to differences in working conditions and job satisfactions. Some implications are proposed for policy in fast-changing, large-scale fields of science and technology.
KW - Research groups
KW - Research technologies
KW - Science policy
KW - Scientific collaboration
KW - Work life
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U2 - 10.1016/j.respol.2003.12.002
DO - 10.1016/j.respol.2003.12.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:2942648143
SN - 0048-7333
VL - 33
SP - 747
EP - 767
JO - Research Policy
JF - Research Policy
IS - 5
ER -