Identifying the MERN and analyzing the contents of the fora

Rachel . W. Roh

Introduction Purpose Methodology

Qualitative analysis Quantitative analysis

Research category 1,2,3 The MERN, a think tank or a network?

Type of Think Tank by McGann (2007) Type of Network by Goldsmith and Eggers (2004) Triple Helix Model by Etzkowitz (2002)

Characteristics of the MERN Findings Discussions Conclusion Q & A

The Manitoba Educational Research Network (the MERN)

Found in 2002 Since 2003

Twenty Fora Three journals One monograph Website

To connect the government, academics, practitioners

A preliminary research before studying effectiveness of the organization

To identify What the MERN is. What resource, presented in the fora, could be provided.

Qualitative analysisQuantitative research

Sample: the research from the 1st forum to 20th forum

Categorizing▪ By target groups and subjects▪ By affiliated group▪ By type

Titles and contents

By Affiliated groups The government departments Academia School Divisions, and schools Others

By type Exploring Describing Evaluating Consulting

Type of Think Tank by McGann (2007) Independent think thinks▪ Academic-diversified think tanks▪ Academic-specialized think tanks▪ Contract research organizations▪ Advocacy think tanks▪ Policy enterprise organization

Affiliated think tanks▪ Party-affiliated▪ Government sponsored▪ Private, for-profit▪ University based

Type of Network by Goldsmith and Eggers (2004) Service contract Supply chain Ad hoc Channel partnership Civic switchboard Information dissemination

Triple Helix Model by Etzkowitz (2002)

Tri-lateral networks and hybrid organization

Tri-lateral networks and hybrid organization

The MERNThe MERN

source: Etzkowitz, H. (2002). Incubation of incubators:Innovation as as a triple helix of university-industry-goverment networks. Science and Public Policy , 29 (2), p.118

A spaceIndependentNonprofitNo budgetResearchers from affiliationsInformal network

Community related studies – Five times Rural area Low-income communities Aboriginal communities

Science and Mathematics – three times

Research to Practice – two times

Targeting groups local community – 22%; The government – 17%

Subjects Aboriginal Education – 24%; Low-Income communities – 3%

Subjects by Target Government : Sustainable development – 24%

Rest targets : Aboriginal Education

Academia – 57%Cooperated research – 43%Focus targets

Departments of government Government

Schools Division, schools Local communities

Academia teaching skills and classroommanagements.

Different sampling : 148 research

Describing – 55%Exploring – 30%The research targeting the government More consultative research Less descriptive research(Comparing with other targeting groups)

The position of the MERN Not a think tank, but containing similarities of the think tank

A unique type of research network A place to share educational information, not to consult policies

Achievement Providing “the meeting place” Well balanced research target area Research in the priority subjects of the department of education

Accommodating various affiliated groups.

Challenges Providing better quality research▪ Creating the environment for follow-up research▪ Long-term plans

▪ Balancing of research types and subjects▪ Increasing the possibility of utilizing the research

Offering better access to the research ▪ Providing detail research information through online and offline (present: only 47% accessible)

Building structured data base

Limitations Analyze within accessible research data

Mainly research title and abstract were criteria to classify research.

Further research suggestions Surveys Measuring effectiveness

The MERN, a network For the government▪ Promoting their policy plans▪ Obtaining feedbacks

For schools and school division▪ Sharing information with similar groups▪ Appeal the opinions to other groups

For Academia▪ Obtaining practical feedbacks▪ Reducing the gap between research and practice▪ Getting the research topic idea

Two ways of future choices for the MERN Horizontal improvement as a network Vertical improvement as a think tank

Thank you