The use of university research in planning decision making in Jordanian municipalities

This paper explores the use of university generated research data by Jordanian planning authorities in their decision making processes and identifies factors affecting the use of that research. A mixed method approach employing a questionnaire survey and face-to face in-depth interviews was used for data collection. All ninety three Jordanian planning municipalities were targeted for this study. Findings reveal that the use of research is quite low. Factors affecting the use of research in decision making processes range from legal, administrative, and technological issues to financial, social and people related challenges. A series of recommendations are made that could address these challenges including reassessing the current capacity of municipalities, the establishment of research centers, the amendment of municipalities' laws, human resource development and the encouragement of joint research.