Abstract
Traditionally, the university has been defined as a center for the production and communication of knowledge, much of it practice-relevant. As one looks-farther along the chain leading from knowledge production to its ultimate utilization, however, the results have been disappointing, notably in the “soft” sciences. One means of heightening knowledge use is that of strengthening the formal links between centres of higher education and centres of application. In the study reported here, formalized arrangements were made between colleges or faculties of education and surrounding school systems, and the knowledge flows between the two sets of institutions were studied from the perspective of knowledge transfer theory and interorganizational theory. The study yielded a set of “core” variables, that could then be clustered into a general model indicating how successful transfers of knowledge can be made.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, S. (1979). Interorganizational Processes and Organizational Boundary Activities. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina.
Aldrich, H. (1977). Organizations and Environments. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.
Benson, J. (1975). “The interorganizational network as a political economy,” Administrative Science Quarterly 20: 229–249.
Brown, D., Aram, J. and Bachner, D. (1979). “Interorganizational information-sharing: a successful intervention that failed,” Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 10 (4): 553–555.
Clark, D. and Guba, E. (1976). A Faculty Self-Report on Knowledge Production and Utilization Activities in Schools, Colleges and Departments of Education. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Clark, D. and Guba, E. (1977). The Role of Higher Education in Educational Knowledge Production and Utilization. Bloomington: Indiana University, Deans' Network.
Clark, D., McKibbin, S. and Malkas, M. (1981). Alternative Perspectives for Viewing Educational Organizations. San Francisco: Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development.
Clifford, G. (1973). “A history of the impact of research on teaching,” in R. Travers, ed., Second Handbook of Research on Teaching. Chicago: Rand-McNally.
Cook, K. (1977). “Exchange and power: networks of interorganizational exchanges,” Sociological Quarterly Winter: 62–82.
Evan, W. (1966). “The organization set: toward a theory of interorganizational relations,” in J. Thompson, ed., Approaches to Organizational Design. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.
Glassman, R. (1974). “Persistence and loose coupling in living systems,” Behavioral Science 18: 83–98.
Granovetter, M. (1973). “Strength of weak ties,” American Journal of Sociology 78: 1360–1380.
Havelock, R. (1969). Planning for Innovation. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, CRUSK, University of Michigan.
Havelock, R. (1981). School-University Collaboration Supporting School Improvement. Vol. III, Eastern Private University Case. Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Education (No. 400–79–0063).
Huberman, M. (1981). School-University Collaboration Supporting School Improvement. Vol. I, Midwestern State Case. Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Education (No. 400–79–0063).
Huberman, M. and Levinson, N. (1982). “Paths to Knowledge Transfer: Barriers and Facilitators in Interorganizational Arrangements”. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association (New York).
Huberman, M., Levinson, N., Havelock, R. and Cox, P. (1981). “Interorganizational arrangements: an approach to educational practice improvement”, Knowledge 3 (1): 5–22.
Levinson, N. (1981). School-University Collaboration Supporting School Improvement. Vol. II, Eastern State University Case. Washington, D.C.: National Institute of Education (No. 400–79–0063).
Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (CERI)(1976–77). Recurrent Education: Policies and Trends. Country Reports. Paris, OECD.
Stern, R. (1979). “The development of an interorganizational central network”, Administrative Science Quarterly 24: 140–155.
Tichy, N. and Fombrun, C. (1979). “Network analysis in organizational settings”, Human Relations 32(2): 111–126.
Warren, R. (1967). “The interorganizational field as a focus for investigation”, Administrative Science Quarterly 12: 396–419.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huberman, A.M. Improving social practice through the utilization of university-based knowledge. High Educ 12, 257–272 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00154422
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00154422