Non-academic Research Research Articles

From Sadness to Joy: The Potentials of Transforming the Impact Agenda

This article seeks to envision a mode of university governance that takes us beyond a neoliberal audit culture and its affective organisation of academic life. It takes up this task by probing the potentials of transforming the ‘impact agenda’ (i.e., the trend towards audit systems and funding mechanisms that assess academics on the basis of their non-academic research impact). Grounded in an ethnography of a UK university, and informed by a Spinozist ethics of joy, the article draws attention to an alternative conception of subjectivity to that which the impact agenda propagates, one that is conceived in terms of collective creativity and which breaks with the neoliberal notion of the competitive individual. I argue this understanding of subjectivity points to a threshold where the impact agenda can become something else. More specifically, drawing inspiration from the idea of ‘collective joy’, I map an alternative that is centred on the goal of enhancing academics’ and non-academics’ capacity for collective creativity. What is at stake in making this conversion is moving from a mode of governance that is debilitating to one that is empowering.

A Retrospective Analysis of Career Outcomes in Neuroscience.

What factors are associated with career outcomes among biomedical PhDs? Research to date has focused on drivers of interest in (and intention to pursue) various careers, especially during graduate school, but fewer studies have investigated participants' ultimate career outcomes. Even less is known about what factors matter for groups historically underrepresented in the US science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, such as women, some racial and ethnic groups, and persons with disabilities ( National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), 2021a). This study reports a new analysis of data from 781 PhD neuroscientists that were obtained from a retrospective survey ( Ullrich et al., 2021) to investigate the factors that influence the career sector in which neuroscience PhDs are employed and whether there were group differences according to social identity. We find evidence of academia as a "default path" for incoming PhD students, but interest in different careers increases over time. Those who remained in academia had greater acceptance of the structural aspects of academic careers, such as promotion and tenure processes, and greater faculty support during postdoctoral training. Conversely, prioritizing monetary compensation and/or varied work were associated with not being in academia, while a strong interest in research was positively associated with being in nonacademic research. Somewhat surprisingly, there were few interactions with gender, and no interactions with underrepresentation status, although perhaps this was due to lower statistical power for these analyses. Our findings also underscore the role of advisors, networking, and personal relationships in securing employment in STEM.

Pluralistic ignorance and occupational choice: The impact of communicating norms on graduate students' career aspirations

AbstractOccupational choices at the early stage of one's career path are influenced by the real and imagined input of mentors. This research focuses on PhD advisors and the graduate students that they mentor. Each participant in that dyadic mentoring relationship holds assumptions about the beliefs of the other regarding the students' career preferences. We propose that, in the absence of discussions surrounding career goals in such relationships, pluralistic ignorance surrounding career norms may develop. PhD students may assume that their advisors prefer that students seek academic research positions; while advisors may assume students prefer academic research positions and may not bring up alternative careers. Three studies adopt a mixed‐method approach to investigate divergent experiences surrounding career discussions. Study 1A (N = 301 faculty members in STEM fields) features qualitative and quantitative data and found that PhD advisors have experience working with students whose career preferences did not align with their expectations, and report changing their mentorship approaches while maintaining rigorous training. Study 1B (N = 195 PhD students in STEM fields) features qualitative data and found that students, although generally comfortable discussing different career options with their advisors, report several concerns that deterred them from discussing nonacademic research positions. Study 2, an experiment designed to compare perceived with actual norms (N = 200 PhD students in STEM fields) revealed that such discomfort could be alleviated by making explicit advisors' support for diverse career options and actual career preferences. The present research provides insights about pluralistic ignorance with implications for having more holistic career discussions in dyadic mentor relationships.

Sustainable scientific publishing: a pilot survey on stakeholder motivations and opinions

Assessing sustainability of journals and publishers could guide the choice of a publication venue. However, sustainable scientific publishing is not sufficiently defined. We assessed motivations for sustainable scientific publishing and importance ratings of sustainability aspects of scientific publishing in an online survey. The questionnaire was answered by 129 participants, including publishing scientists, non-academic research institution employees, editors, administrative staff of scientific journals and publishing companies, and individuals working at sustainability organizations. Personal motivation was rated to be important for all stakeholders, especially for scientists (p < .001). Universities, journals, non-academic staff at universities, journals, and publishers were perceived to be motivated to act sustainably because of external factors such as incentives, policies, laws, and regulations (p < .001). The most important sustainability aspects of scientific publishing were the proportion of open access articles and open access costs, a sustainability policy, plan, and report, digital publication, publication of sustainability topics, support of sustainable actions for staff, sustainable operations, e.g., sustainable transport, and social responsibility for staff, including gender aspects. The low response rate limits conclusions. The results suggest a sustainability index for scientific publishers could serve as an aid for decision making in scientific publishing.

Presentation of logic and reasoning in Ayurveda. Building epistemologies of the South

A collaboration of academic and non-academic researchers examines the logic and reasoning of Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system. Ayurveda views health as a dynamic balance between the “Tridoshas” and emphasizes intrinsic host-centered factors for disease prevention and management, including for COVID-19. The foundations of Ayurveda, built on philosophical schools like Sankhya, Nyaya and Vaiseshika, use logic and deductive reasoning to build a solid epistemological framework. This logic weaves a rigorous mesh structuring the practice of Ayurveda and is found even in the naming of diseases, emphasizing the importance of rationality in this process. The limits of the reductionist vision of Western science are highlighted by the holistic perspectives of Ayurveda in the interconnected and global understanding of life and health. The injustices faced by Ayurveda due to the dominance of biomedicine call for medical and scientific cooperation that is ethical and respectful of different medical systems to address global health challenges. The recognition of epistemologies from the South, such as those of Ayurveda, in global academic and scientific discourses, gives the reader the possibility of perceiving the complexity of our World and the plurality of our relationship to Life in order to enrich understanding. of Health and to promote the practice of cooperative medicine.

Integrated Knowledge Translation in the Food and Nutrition Security for Manitoba Youth study

Abstract Background There are concerns that many children do not have healthy diets, which may be related to dietary choices as well as lack of access to healthy foods. The Food and Nutrition Security for Manitoba Youth (FANS) study examined diet, nutrition-related behaviours and food security of 1587 grade nine students in Manitoba, Canada. Results show that while one in five students were food insecure, almost all need significant dietary improvements. Engaging stakeholders through multiple communication channels is key to disseminating research outcomes to drive action for policy change. Methods Principles of integrated knowledge translation were followed, including a breadth of dissemination activities, to maximize impact of study results. These included diverse partnerships, academic and non-academic research outputs, and use of media. Results Study partners including academic co-investigators, school authorities, government agencies and non-profit organizations advocating for child nutrition contributed to study design, interpretation and dissemination. Results were published in academic journals, as well as translated into a suite of non-academic outputs including a community report, infographics (circulated on social media), and a searchable data dashboard, available through a web-based portal. This approach allows for tracking of research output downloads, which number over 500 to date. Due to active outreach to traditional media, study results received widespread attention adding to the breadth of knowledge translation methods employed. This also led to uptake by provincial health education curriculum developers. Results will also be circulated during an upcoming provincial election as part of engaging candidates around child nutrition and food security issues and policies. Conclusions This broad approach to integrated knowledge translation has resulted in extensive distribution of FANS study results and has potential to influence public health nutrition policy. Key messages • Integrated knowledge translation and a breadth of dissemination strategies in the FANS study has led to extensive distribution of research outputs and media coverage. • The FANS knowledge portal, with diverse academic and non-academic research outputs including a data dashboard, is strategic for public health nutrition promotion and advocacy.

Recommendations for patient involvement in health technology assessment in Central and Eastern European countries.

Meaningful patient involvement in health technology assessment (HTA) is essential in ensuring that the interests of the affected patient population, their families, and the general public are accurately reflected in coverage and reimbursement decisions. Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are generally at less advanced stages of implementing HTA, which is particularly true for patient involvement activities. As part of the Horizon2020 HTx project, this research aimed to form recommendations for critical barriers to patient involvement in HTA in CEE countries. Built on previous research findings on potential barriers, a prioritisation survey was conducted online with CEE stakeholders. Recommendations for prioritised barriers were formed through a face-to-face workshop by CEE stakeholders and HTx experts. A total of 105 stakeholders from 13 CEE countries completed the prioritisation survey and identified 12 of the 22 potential barriers as highly important. The workshop had 36 participants representing 9 CEE countries, and 5 Western European countries coming together to discuss solutions in order to form recommendations based on best practices, real-life experience, and transferability aspects. Stakeholder groups involved in both phases included HTA organisation representatives, payers, patients, caregivers, patient organisation representatives, patient experts, health care providers, academic and non-academic researchers, health care consultants and health technology manufacturers/providers. As a result, 12 recommendations were formed specified to the CEE region's context, but potentially useful for a broader geographic audience. In this paper, we present 12 recommendations for meaningful, systematic, and sustainable patient involvement in HTA in CEE countries. Our hope is that engaging more than a hundred CEE stakeholders in the study helped to spread awareness of the importance and potential of patient involvement and that the resulting recommendations provide tangible steps for the way forward. Future studies shall focus on country-specific case studies of the implemented recommendations.

Intervention orientations in communication research

ABSTRACT The importance of intervention in communication research has continued to expand in a variety of research traditions including applied communication, engaged scholarship, and communication activism. The growing importance of intervention requires closely examining our research practices regarding knowledge production and the role of nonacademic research partners. The present study articulates four intervention orientations based on an analysis of articles (n = 154) from 2010 to 2020, drawn from journals published by the U.S.-based Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, International Communication Association, and National Communication Association. Four orientations are articulated using the dimensions of problem focus and intervention pathway: (1) translation, (2) critique, (3) design, and (4) co-creation. Implications regarding temporality and intervention, the significance of interdisciplinary research, and the sustainable social impact of interventions are highlighted.

The Use of Evidence Synthesis in the Context of Healthcare: A Literature Review Primer

Introduction: Evidence synthesis (ES) uses different systematic methodologies to compile a body of evidence on a given topic based on existing literature to help inform practice, policy, and future research decisions. There are multiple ways to categorize different types of ES. However, they differ in how they search, appraise, synthesize, and analyze data. Some of the most common ES forms include systematic, narrative, scoping, critical, environmental scans, and rapid reviews. Utility: ES offers a myriad of benefits. These methodologies provide an immediate response to a question using research that has already been approved, funded, and completed, highlighting potential applications in numerous non-research-focused disciplines. Additionally, when information is not readily available in the current literature, ES methodologies elucidate gaps in knowledge that otherwise would be masked. Finally, they enhance the development of novel strategies, studies, and theories by summarizing, appraising, and critiquing current literature despite not being a direct source of unknown information. Challenges: Several practical challenges inhibit the use of ES. To compile any form of ES, access to a wide range of databases and peer-reviewed journals is necessary, thus hindering feasibility for non-academic researchers and those in poorly funded research organizations. These challenges are often exacerbated in developing countries. Due to these barriers, ethical implications exist regarding the lack of inclusive evidence-building between scientists. Additionally, conducting a rigorous and rigid systematic review that analyzes every significant paper on a particular topic is highly time-consuming, thus hampering the effective utilization of ES in most labs. Limitations: ES techniques contain several inherent limitations. Firstly, research questions that are too specific such that existing literature is inadequate or questions that are too broad, such that existing literature is in excess, make ES methodologies weak in providing accurate answers. Additionally, to achieve objectivity, authors of ES studies need to create comprehensive inclusion/exclusion criteria. Unfortunately, this often fosters bias amongst different interpretations of the criteria, thus influencing what research gets included in the analysis. Subsequently, the validity of the entire ES method is jeopardized.

Increasing faculty support, respect, and ability to help doctoral students explore non-academic research career opportunities

We examined the role of the NIH-funded Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) program at Wayne State University in increasing faculty (1) support for doctoral students exploring non-academic research opportunities, (2) respect for non-academic research, and (3) ability to help students with non-academic research career exploration. Ninety-seven faculty participated in one or more BEST activities over a five-year period. Fifty-three of those faculty (55%) completed an online survey about their participation in the program and their support, respect, and ability to help students explore non-academic research careers. Sixteen of these faculty were also interviewed in depth about their perspectives on the role professional development can play in enhancing faculty perspectives about non-academic research career options for their students. The survey and interview data reveal some changing perceptions of BEST faculty participants in their attitudes toward and respect for non-academic research careers, as well as in their ability to help students in career exploration. These faculty perceptions correlated with their level of participation in BEST activities. Importantly, this study also showed that some faculty believe they lack the experience and connections outside of academia to adequately support doctoral students' career exploration. The results of this NIH-funded BEST program on faculty attitudes underscore the influence of federally funded programs in changing institutional attitudes towards supporting student career choices that have broad societal impact.

Optimizing older adult co-researchers’ involvement in PAR: proposed evaluation tool

PurposeThis paper aims to share a practical evaluation tool intended to guide and support the participation of older people in PAR projects. Participatory action research (PAR) studies with older adults have been increasing over the past ten years. Scientific evidence provides key principles for PAR projects to achieve meaningful participation by older people; however, respecting the ideals of PAR is not always straightforward.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a case study that evaluated the involvement of nonacademic researchers in a PAR project using an evaluation tool derived from a literature review of PAR undertaken with this population (Corrado et al., 2020). The study goals were first to assess the assets and limits of the older co-researchers’ participation within the PAR project, and second to provide a revised version of the evaluation tool to support future PAR with older people. First, the authors designed an evaluation tool for nonacademic participation in PAR studies by older people that covers three main themes: older people positioned as prominent research partners; symmetrical power relations between academic and nonacademic researchers; and commitment regarding inclusiveness and long-term collaboration. Second, the authors performed an evaluation using this tool within the Active Aging with Dignity PAR Project.FindingsThird, the authors used the results of this experiment to suggest improvements for an enhanced version of the evaluation tool aiming at supporting fuller involvement of older nonacademic researchers in PAR studies.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, this evaluative tool is a methodological innovation in gerontology.

Najeh Al-Rawi and his role in the Scientific Academy 1996-2006

The political aspects in the contemporary history of Iraq are the most aspects that academic and non-academic researchers dealt with in their studies, unlike the cultural, social and economic aspects, and the personalities of the educated elite, which are aspects that were not subjected to research and study except by a few researchers, and even researchers who were exposed To study the biographies and roles of personalities, their studies were limited to political figures, kings, heads of states, prime ministers, and ministers, while they neglected the study of personalities who contributed to the development of Iraq through their assumption of various positions in the state.

JumpSTART Triage Protocol in Disaster Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Literature Review.

In a mass-casualty incident (MCI) involving children, there is a need to apply accurate triage tools in order to help those who require important care, and at the same time, to avoid unnecessary use of resources. Thus, it is discussed which would be the best triage device to use in these situations. One of the most used is a modification of Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment, JumpSTART, whose performative quality this review focuses on. This review sought to compare the performance parameters of JumpSTART with other triage algorithms used in pediatric disaster victims. This systematic review was performed according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and registered with the PROSPERO database of systematic reviews with the number CRD42021258415. The last update of the search in the databases was on August 12, 2021 and resulted in six documents to be analyzed. The inclusion criteria included the peer-reviewed academic papers in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian languages, and the databases used were PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE/Bireme (Virtual Library of Health), Web of Science, and CINAHL, which executes the query on the topic, keywords, or abstracts. Also to be included, documents that were available with full-text access through CAPES, Google, or Google Scholar. Books, non-academic research, and content in languages other than the presented ones were represented as exclusion criteria. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists were used to evaluate the methodological quality of the retrieved studies. The results were presented through narrative synthesis. This review was not funded. Of the collected publications, five articles were used to carry out this review, with the addition of an extra article captured by citation tracking. The findings from the obtained results were that JumpSTART was the preferred tool and presented the fastest speed of use. Only one of the five studies that dealt with accuracy showed JumpSTART as the most accurate algorithm, while three of the other four showed its inferiority in most aspects. In one study, no significant difference was observed amongst the chosen protocols. There is insufficient evidence to validate JumpSTART as a universal triage tool, given the disparities in the results obtained from the comparisons. No tool performed satisfactorily well, therefore there is an urgent need to create a reliable algorithm.

Increasing Faculty Support, Respect, and Ability to Help Doctoral Students Explore Non-Academic Research Career Opportunities

Increasing Faculty Support, Respect, and Ability to Help Doctoral Students Explore Non-Academic Research Career Opportunities

From Kolisko to nowadays: progresses and discoveries in agro-homeopathy.

The use of ultra-diluted preparations method in agriculture was introduced with agro-homeopathy, which allows to influence biological processes of plants by either accelerating or delaying growth. Moreover, it can contribute to the control of plagues and diseases, directly promoting an increase of the yield and an improvement of product qualitative traits. Since the pioneering works of Kolisko on wheat germination [1] and Junker on growth of microorganisms (paramecium, yeast, fungi) [2], in the last 30 years work has flourished from independent researchers from worldwide (Americas, Europe and Australasia). The international research works on agro-homeopathy can be conceptually divided in two main groups: effects of ultra-diluted preparations on crop growth and applicability for crop disease control. The first type of investigations usually are carried out on both healthy organisms for determining the growth stimulation of treatments and on abiotically stressed plants (i.e. heavy metal over-exposition, salt excess, water and nutrients deficiency) for determining the re-growth stimulation of ultra-dilutions [3,4]. The second type of investigations are usually performed on artificially diseased organisms (i.e. fungal and viral pathogens or nematode infection), which may react more markedly to homeopathic treatments than healthy ones [5]. Unfortunately, on the basis of the extensive critical review of published papers, there is little firm evidence to support the reliability of the reported results. Except for a limited number of publications, the most common drawbacks of agro-homeopathy researches are the poor experimental methodology and the inadequate statistical analysis. Moreover, since there is no agricultural homeopathic pharmacopoeia, much work is required to find suitable remedies, potencies and dose levels. Considering the criticism on the practical applicability of ultra-diluted preparations, in order to be accepted as a valid part of agricultural practices a well structured research strategy for agro-homeopathy is needed. This is often hampered by methodological problems as well as by the general underinvestment on the academic and nonacademic research structures. Fundamental researches based on collaborative approaches (i.e. ring tests on selected crop models) and on common experimental protocols (i.e. statistical robustness) are the keys for determining the worldwide acceptability of agro-homeopathy as a sustainable agro-technique.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Statement of conflict of interest&#x0D; &#x0D; Authors declare there is no conflict of interest.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Statement of financial support&#x0D; &#x0D; Authors declare that this study received no funding.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Bibliography&#x0D; &#x0D; 1. Kolisko L. Physiologischer und physikalischer Nachweis der Wirksamkeit kleinster Entitäten. 1923; Stuttgart, Verlag Der Kommende Tag AG.&#x0D; &#x0D; 2. Junker H.. Die Wirkung extremer Potenzverdünnungen auf Organismen. Pflugers Arch ges Phys 1928; 219B, 5/6, 647-672.&#x0D; &#x0D; 3. Jäger T, Scherr C, Shah D, Majewsky V, Betti L, Trebbi G, Bonamin L, Simões-Wüst AP, Wolf U, Simon M, Heusser P, Baumgartner S. Use of homeopathic preparations in experimental studies with abiotically stressed plants. Homeopathy 2011; 100: 275-287&#x0D; &#x0D; 4. Majewsky V, Heuwieser, Shah D, Scherr C, Jaeger Tim, Betti L, Trebbi G, Bonamin L, Klocke P, Baumpartner S. Use of homeopathic preparations in experimental studies with healthy plants. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 228-243.&#x0D; 5. Betti L, Trebbi G, Majewsky V, Scherr C, Shah-Rossi D, Jäger T, Baumgartner S. Use of homeopathic preparations in phytopathological models and in field trials: a critical review. Homeopathy 2009; 98: 244-266.

A feminist ethos for caring knowledge production in transdisciplinary sustainability science

Transdisciplinary Sustainability Science has emerged as a viable answer to current sustainability crises with the aim to strengthen collaborative knowledge production. To expand its transformative potential, we argue that Transdisciplinary Sustainability Science needs to thoroughly engage with questions of unequal power relations and hierarchical scientific constructs. Drawing on the work of the feminist philosopher María Puig de la Bellacasa, we examine a feminist ethos of care which might provide useful guidance for sustainability researchers who are interested in generating critical-emancipatory knowledge. A feminist ethos of care is constituted by three interrelated modes of knowledge production: (1) thinking-with, (2) dissenting-within and (3) thinking-for. These modes of thinking and knowing enrich knowledge co-production in Transdisciplinary Sustainability Science by (i) embracing relational ontologies, (ii) relating to the ‘other than human’, (iii) cultivating caring academic cultures, (iv) taking care of non-academic research partners, (v) engaging with conflict and difference, (vi) interrogating positionalities and power relations through reflexivity, (vii) building upon marginalised knowledges via feminist standpoints and (viii) countering epistemic violence within and beyond academia. With our paper, we aim to make a specific feminist contribution to the field of Transdisciplinary Sustainability Science and emphasise its potentials to advance this field.

Children's Health Care in Mass-Casualty Incidents: A Systematic Literature Review.

Considering the pediatric peculiarities and the difficulty of assisting this population in mass-casualty situations, this study aims to identify the main topics regarding children's health care in mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) that are discussed in the Emergency Medicine area. This systematic review was performed according to the recommendations of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and registered with the PROSPERO database of systematic reviews with the number CRD42021229552. The last update of the search in the databases was on May 27, 2021 and resulted in 45 documents to be analyzed. The inclusion criteria included the peer-reviewed academic papers in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian languages; the databases used were PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE/Bireme (Virtual Library of Health - VLH), and Web of Science, which execute the query on the topic, keywords, or abstracts. Also, to be included, documents that were available with full-text access through CAPES, Google, or Google Scholar. Books, non-academic research, and content in languages other than the presented ones were represented as exclusion criteria. From the resulting papers, 21 articles served as the basis for this analysis. Revealed were the year of publication, the first author's institution nationality, topic, and disaster management phase for each study, which allow other researchers to understand the main topics regarding children's health care in MCIs. The topics regarding child's health care in MCIs found in the primary studies of this review, in order of frequency, were: Disaster Response (including the following sub-topics: simulation, education, quality of care, use of technological tools, and damage analysis); Triage; and Disaster Planning. The Emergency Medicine operation was focused on harm reduction after the occurrence of an MCI. Further studies focusing on the pre-disaster and post-disaster phases are needed.

Exploring daily time-use patterns: ATUS-X data extractor and online diary visualization tool.

Time-use data can often be perceived as inaccessible by non-specialists due to their unique format. This article introduces the ATUS-X diary visualization tool that aims to address the accessibility issue and expand the user base of time-use data by providing users with opportunity to quickly visualize their own subsamples of the American Time Use Survey Data Extractor (ATUS-X). Complementing the ATUS-X, the online tool provides an easy point-and-click interface, making data exploration readily accessible in a visual form. The tool can benefit a wider academic audience, policy-makers, non-academic researchers, and journalists by removing accessibility barriers to time use diaries.

Estimating Health over Space and Time: A Review of Spatial Microsimulation Applied to Public Health

There is an ongoing demand for data on population health, for reasons of resource allocation, future planning and crucially to address inequalities in health between people and between populations. Although there are regular sources of data at coarse spatial scales, such as countries or large sub-national units such as states, there is often a lack of good quality health data at the local level. One method to develop reliable estimates of population health outcomes is spatial microsimulation, an approach that has its roots in economic studies. Here, we share a review of this method for estimating health in populations, explaining the different approaches available and examples where the method is applied successfully for creating both static and dynamic populations. Recent notable advances in the method that allow uncertainty to be represented are highlighted, along with the evolving approaches to validation that are an ongoing challenge in small-area estimation. The summary serves as a primer for academics new to the area of research as well as an overview for non-academic researchers who consider using these models for policy evaluations.

Policy options to increase motivation for improving evidence-informed health policy-making in Iran

BackgroundCurrent incentive programmes are not sufficient to motivate researchers and policy-makers to use research evidence in policy-making. We conducted a mixed-methods design to identify context-based policy options for strengthening motivations among health researchers and policy-makers to support evidence-informed health policy-making (EIHP) in Iran.MethodsThis study was conducted in 2019 in two phases. In the first phase, we conducted a scoping review to extract interventions implemented or proposed to strengthen motivations to support EIHP. Additionally, we employed a comparative case study design for reviewing the performance evaluation (PE) processes in Iran and other selected countries to determine the current individual and organizational incentives to encourage EIHP. In the second phase, we developed two policy briefs and then convened two policy dialogues, with 12 and 8 key informants, respectively, where the briefs were discussed. Data were analysed using manifest content analysis in order to propose contextualized policy options.ResultsThe policy options identified to motivate health researchers and policy-makers to support EIHP in Iran were: revising the criteria of academic PE; designing appropriate incentive programmes for nonacademic researchers; developing an indicator for the evaluation of research impact on policy-making or health outcomes; revising the current policies of scientific journals; revising existing funding mechanisms; presenting the knowledge translation plan when submitting a research proposal, as a mandatory condition; encouraging and supporting mechanisms for increasing interactions between policy-makers and researchers; and revising some administrative processes (e.g. managers and staff PEs; selection, appointment, and changing managers and reward mechanisms).ConclusionsThe current individual or organizational incentives are mainly focused on publications, rather than encouraging researchers and policy-makers to support EIHP. Relying more on incentives that consider the other impacts of research (e.g. impacts on health system and policy, or health outcomes) is recommended. These incentives may encourage individuals and organizations to be more involved in conducting research evidence, resulting in promoting EIHP.Trial registrationNA.