Exploring Perspectives of Self-Sufficiency among Science and Technology Policymakers; Application of Q Methodology

Mahdikhah, Mohammad Mahdi; Khani Jazani, Jamal; Emami, Seyyed Mojtaba; Ramezanpoor Nargesi, Ghasem

Exploring Perspectives of Self-Sufficiency among Science and Technology Policymakers; Application of Q Methodology

Document Type : Research Article (Original Article)

Authors

Mohammad Mahdi Mahdikhah ¹

Jamal Khani Jazani ²

Seyyed Mojtaba Emami ³

Ghasem Ramezanpoor Nargesi ⁴

¹ PhD candidate of Science and Technology Policy, Department of Technology Development Studies, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.

² Associate Professor, Department of Technology Development Studies, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.

³ Assistant Professor, Faculty of Islamic Studies and Management, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran.

⁴ Assistant Professor, Department of Technology Development Studies, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

This article investigates how framing processes lead to polarization among science and technology policy makers on an important policy. Drawing on an analysis of newspaper articles about the “self-sufficiency” in Iran, it concludes that one of main reasons of “disagreement among science and technology policy makers is a result of multiplicity and disharmony of officials” understanding of self-sufficiency policy. Consequently, the improvement of this policy mostly needs recognition of the typology of our policy makers’ mindset, so the main purpose of this research is “recognition and categorization of science and technology policy makers’ mentalities in regard to self-sufficiency in Iran”. To reach this goal, we used “Q-Methodology” which is a mixed method. We found four different mindset titled as “Independence Shouters”, “Development Seekers”, “Dependency Regulators”, and “Puzzled”. In the stage of “interpreting types of mindset”, innovation of this research in exploiting “Discriminating Statements” and “Consensus Statements” to indicate differences among mindset types.

Keywords

Frame Reflection

Science and Technology Policy

Self-Sufficiency Policy

Q-Methodology