Research proposal
Research proposal, May 14, 2007
Knowledge Economy
Research question
Goal of this paper is to describe knowledge economy and its agents in Vienna. The emphasis herein lies in institutions, governmental and private ones, their main tasks, their target groups and programs. The main questions to be researched are: Who are they?; What do they do?; and Why are they doing it?. What do they focus on and why do they do so?
Other important questions to be asked are what motivations and expectations are the driving force behind developments in knowledge economy and what indicates whether a strategy succeeds or fails. This paper also aims at illustrating interrelations between knowledge and learning. Where do the main agents set their focus point of what kind of knowledge is taught and how it is learned.
A comparison between the results obtained by the Vienna research group and its counterpart in Recife, Brasilia will also be included in the final version of the paper.
Ultimately this paper is also meant to give suggestions for possible bridge-building solutions for the gap between knowledge economy and social polarisation.
The research will be carried out by analysis of press material, articles and homepages of the researched, as well as by interviews with representatives of all main actors. The obtained results will thereafter be analysed on the basis of a theoretical background.
Methodology of empirical studies
The goal of the interviews is to get the interviewee to talk freely and without restrain. The function of the researcher is to create an open and trusting climate, stimulate ideas and stories and eliminate obscurities that might arise. Questions do not have to be formulated clearly as the space that is created by not doing this provides the interviewee with the greatest possible freedom concerning his replies.
It is very important to create an open and stress free interview situation and a stimulating climate to obtain a realistic result. In order to achieve that it is necessary to schedule enough time and do the interview in an appropriate place. Some thought has to be put into this before starting the interview.
Considering our field of research and our resources we have decided on an open interview.
Interview partners
- ZIT
- MA 27
- WWTF
Method of data evaluation
In the course of an evaluation the obtained data will be analysed and the key contents categorized to enable an interpretation.
Goal of the interpretation is to work out parallels and discrepancies of the interviews. By categorizing the interviews from the beginning the research team will be able to compare the statements themselves and not give an interpretation linked to the time they where made during the interview.
Time table
preliminary measures
Narrowing down of the research question Done
Narrowing of the theoretical method Done
Scheduling of the interviews 14/05 – 20/05
Preparation for the interviews (key questions) 14/05 – 20/05
creating a set of criteria for document analysis 14/05 – 20/05
Field Phase
document analysis 14/05-20/05
interviews 20/05 – 05/06
Analysis & documentation
Formulation of analysis criteria on the basis of the theory and the results 05/06 – 10/06
Analysis of the main actors 05/06 – 10/06
Discussion and comparison of all actors 05/06 – 10/06
Discussion and comparison of Vienna results with Recife 10/06 – 30/06
Documentation in form of a paper 01/06 – 19/06
Knowledge Economy
Research question
Goal of this paper is to describe knowledge economy and its agents in Vienna. The emphasis herein lies in institutions, governmental and private ones, their main tasks, their target groups and programs. The main questions to be researched are: Who are they?; What do they do?; and Why are they doing it?. What do they focus on and why do they do so?
Other important questions to be asked are what motivations and expectations are the driving force behind developments in knowledge economy and what indicates whether a strategy succeeds or fails. This paper also aims at illustrating interrelations between knowledge and learning. Where do the main agents set their focus point of what kind of knowledge is taught and how it is learned.
A comparison between the results obtained by the Vienna research group and its counterpart in Recife, Brasilia will also be included in the final version of the paper.
Ultimately this paper is also meant to give suggestions for possible bridge-building solutions for the gap between knowledge economy and social polarisation.
The research will be carried out by analysis of press material, articles and homepages of the researched, as well as by interviews with representatives of all main actors. The obtained results will thereafter be analysed on the basis of a theoretical background.
Methodology of empirical studies
The goal of the interviews is to get the interviewee to talk freely and without restrain. The function of the researcher is to create an open and trusting climate, stimulate ideas and stories and eliminate obscurities that might arise. Questions do not have to be formulated clearly as the space that is created by not doing this provides the interviewee with the greatest possible freedom concerning his replies.
It is very important to create an open and stress free interview situation and a stimulating climate to obtain a realistic result. In order to achieve that it is necessary to schedule enough time and do the interview in an appropriate place. Some thought has to be put into this before starting the interview.
Considering our field of research and our resources we have decided on an open interview.
Interview partners
- ZIT
- MA 27
- WWTF
Method of data evaluation
In the course of an evaluation the obtained data will be analysed and the key contents categorized to enable an interpretation.
Goal of the interpretation is to work out parallels and discrepancies of the interviews. By categorizing the interviews from the beginning the research team will be able to compare the statements themselves and not give an interpretation linked to the time they where made during the interview.
Time table
preliminary measures
Narrowing down of the research question Done
Narrowing of the theoretical method Done
Scheduling of the interviews 14/05 – 20/05
Preparation for the interviews (key questions) 14/05 – 20/05
creating a set of criteria for document analysis 14/05 – 20/05
Field Phase
document analysis 14/05-20/05
interviews 20/05 – 05/06
Analysis & documentation
Formulation of analysis criteria on the basis of the theory and the results 05/06 – 10/06
Analysis of the main actors 05/06 – 10/06
Discussion and comparison of all actors 05/06 – 10/06
Discussion and comparison of Vienna results with Recife 10/06 – 30/06
Documentation in form of a paper 01/06 – 19/06
Andrea Visotschnig - 16. Mai, 20:35
