Scientific Tacit Knowledge Among Researchers with Long Scientific Seniority: Towards a Four-Pillar Framework

Abstract

This study addresses the topic of scientific tacit knowledge (STK), specifically related to employees with Long Scientific Seniority (LSS), defined as those with more than 25 years of postdoctoral experience. STK serves as an internal resource for scientific institutions and contributes to high-quality research. Despite its importance, STK remains relatively underexplored in the literature; however, it is considered important in engineering sciences, such as construction. The research question focuses on understanding the characteristics and structure of the STK. An extensive literature review of STK definitions was conducted using multiple databases. An online survey was conducted among fourteen construction-related research institutions in Europe (five research institutes and nine universities) to understand how LSS personnel and their tacit knowledge are perceived within these institutions. Based on the survey findings, 51 in-depth interviews were conducted to gain a better understanding of STK. Participants were divided into three groups: LSS employees, their co-workers, and their leaders. The thematic analysis of the qualitative interview data led to the identification of recurring STK components, which were subsequently organised into four pillars. The cognitive pillar includes research intuition, pattern recognition, knowledge synthesis, and a deep understanding of scientific processes. The practical pillar consists of research skills, technical competence, complex problem-solving, historical knowledge, and academic writing skills. The ethos pillar includes work ethic, emotional engagement, and academic value. The relational pillar refers to academic culture, informal rules and practices, and the expert networks. This study had some limitations. First, it was conducted in scientific institutions within the construction field, and the interview data reflected the participants’ perspectives. Further research may include examining different disciplines, such as natural and social sciences, to determine which pillars are more universal and which differ across disciplines.