美国院校研究的决策支持行为及其影响因素

On the Decision Support Behavior of Institutional Research and Its Affecting Factors in the United States

近年来,美国院校研究的职能发生了新的变化。院校研究人员不仅为决策提供信息,还积极参与决策过程。基于西蒙的组织决策过程理论,对美国院校研究人员进行的全国性抽样调查发现,院校研究人员在决策过程中的参与程度呈U字形分布,院校研究人员的决策支持可以分为基础性支持和高级性支持,院校研究人员的决策参与观念及组织支持是影响其决策支持行为的重要因素,院校研究的决策支持功能因个人观念和组织支持呈现四种模式。故需对院校研究进行新的界定,从决策过程的视角来审视院校研究;高校领导需为开展院校研究提供支持,营造良好氛围;院校研究人员需适时转变自身观念,为学校改革与发展发挥更大作用。

There are some new changes as for the function of American institutional research （IR） in recent years. IR officers not only provide data and information in decision-making, but also participate in decision-making processes. A national survey to IR officers in the US based on Herbert Simon＇s organizational decision-making processes is conducted. It is found that IR officers＂ participation in campus decision-making processes appears ＂U＂ shape; there are two levels of decision support, that is, basic level and senior level; IR officers＂ opinions on participating in decision-making processes and organizational support for IR are two key factors affecting the function of IR as decision support; there are four patterns of IR function as decision support. We should redefine IR from the perspective of decision-making processes; university leaders should provide more organizational support and build favorable atmosphere for IR; institutional researchers should change their opinions on decision support and play more important roles in university reform and development.