Science, technology, and innovation indicator systems: International organism comparative analysis
| Autor | Elda C. Morales Sánchez de la Barquera - Julio E. Rubio - Rafael A. Ayala-Rodríguez |
| Cargo | PhD in Humanistic Studies from the Tecnológico de Monterrey. She is a professor at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico State Campus - PhD, is the dean of the School of Social Science and Humanities for the Mexico City Metropolitan area of the Tecnológico de Monterrey - PhD, is a professor of the School of Social Science and Humanities for the ... |
| Páginas | 11-27 |
JURÍPOLIS, año 2015, No. 16 11
Science, technology, and innovation indicator systems:
International organism comparative analysis
Elda C. Morales Sánchez de la Barquera1
Julio E. Rubio2
Rafael A. Ayala-Rodríguez3
Abstract: In this article, we examine Science Technology and Innovation (STI)
indicators as sociotechnical systems through a comparative analysis of the indica-
tors generated by three international organizations: the World Bank, the Organiza-
tion for Cooperation and Economic Development (OCDE), and the Network of
Indicators for Science and Technology (RICYT).4 Furthermore, we identify the
structure, process, and categorization of these organizations’ indicators, and de-
termine their relative advantages and disadvantages.
Key words: Science, Technology, Innovation, Indicator Systems, Sociotechni-
cal Systems, Indicator Methodologies, Epistemic and Technological Objects,
Science Policy
1 ELDA C. MORALES SÁNCHEZ de la Barquera holds a PhD in Humanistic Studies from the
Tecnológico de Monterrey. She is a professor at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico State Campus.
Address: Carretera Lago de Guadalupe Km 3.5, Atizapán de Zaragoza, 52926, Estado de México,
MEXICO. Contact: eldacmorales@yahoo.com, eldamorales@itesm.mx. Phone: (+52) 55 5408-8098
2 JULIO E. RUBIO, PhD, is the dean of the School of Social Science and Humanities for the
Mexico City Metropolitan area of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Address: 222 Calle del Puente,
Col. Ejidos de Huipulco, Tlalpan, 14300, México, D.F., MEXICO. Contact: jerb@itesm.mx. Phone:
(+52) 55 5483-2281
3 RAFAEL A. AYALA-RODRÍGUEZ, PhD, is a professor of the School of Social Science and
Humanities for the Mexico City Campus of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Address: 222 Calle del
Puente, Col. Ejidos de Huipulco, Tlalpan, 14300, México, D.F., MEXICO. Contact: ra@itesm.mx
Phone: (+52) 55 5483-2312
4 The RICYT acronym stands for the name of the network of Science and Technology indica-
tors in Spanish.
12 Elda C. Morales Sánchez de la Barquera • Julio E. Rubio • Rafael A. Ayala-Rodríguez
JURÍPOLIS, año 2015, No. 16
I. Introduction
Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) have become tools for economic
and social growth, as well as components of the political agenda. The relevance of
the study of STI indicator systems allows for effective, and efficient decision mak-
ing. STI are complex phenomena, and these phenomena are best evaluated
through the results provided by indicator systems. STI indicators are, thus, the
foundation for scientific policy in a country, and they behave as sociotechnical
systems. The study of concrete cases of STI indicator systems and a comparative
analysis of these cases provides valuable insight into their operation.
Here, we will analyze the STI indicator systems of three international or-
ganizations. The World Bank, the Organization for Cooperation and Economic
Development (OECD), and the Network of Indicators for Science and Technol-
ogy (RICYT). The World Bank is an organization that influences decision-making
in most countries; therefore, the analysis of its indicators is relevant for this
study’s international scope. The OECD is a pioneer in the standardization of con-
cepts and methodologies for data collection for indicators; thus, an analysis not
taking this organization into account would be incomplete. The RICYT provides a
geographic representation of Latin American countries usually left out of this
type of analysis (RICYT, 2010). The selection of these organizations provides a
truly international overview of STI indicators.
Our conceptual framework underlines the importance of understanding STI
indicator systems as sociotechnical systems composed of the participation of so-
cial systems and technical systems, which share the objective of producing tech-
nological objects. This objective gives meaning to the operation of each of the
systems. The technological objects produced take the form of indicator reports,
which are organized into categories (Morales & Rubio, 2012).
The methodology used for this comparative analysis includes a four-compo-
nent revision for each of the selected organizations. These components are: (1)
the central agency of the system, (2) its epistemic and technological object, (3) its
structure and process, and (4) its coupling with its environment (Morales & Ru-
bio, 2012). Following this methodology, we evaluate the system’s central agency
in terms of its structure, process, social capital, and judiciary framework. We ana-
lyze the epistemic and technological object considering: its methodological base,
its use of surveys, the existence of databases, its elements, and its information
flows. We study its coupling with the environment by taking into account the me-
dia through which the technological object is available, the language in which it is
published, its cost, and its periodicity (Morales & Rubio, 2012).
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