The Role of Expectations of Science as Promissory Discourses in Shaping Research Policy: A Case Study of the Creation of Genome Canada by Margaret Amanda Lemay A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education University of Toronto © Copyright by Margaret Amanda Lemay 2019 The Role of Expectations of Science as Promissory Discourses in Shaping Research Policy: A Case Study of the Creation of Genome Canada Margaret Amanda Lemay Doctor of Philosophy Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education University of Toronto 2019 Abstract This thesis examines promise of science discourse and its impacts in shaping research policy. Through a single case study of the origins of Genome Canada, the research was guided by the question: How did expectations of genomics, as promise of genomics discourse, shape the creation of Genome Canada? Background is presented on the long-standing, but largely unacknowledged, relationship between the promise of science and research policy. Theoretical grounding for the study is provided by concepts from the discursive policy analysis and sociology of expectations of science and technology literatures. Promise of genomics discourse, expectations of genomics of story-lines and a conceptualization of knowledge-based discursive power provide the theoretical and analytical basis for an in-depth examination of the ideational effects and material impacts on research policy decisions over three years (1997 – 2000) that sought to position Canada as a leader, internationally, in genomics research. As discourse, the promise of genomics fulfilled an essential role in shaping policy decisions. The promise of genomics discourse and expectations of genomics story-lines functioned in a complex interplay of discursive practices and dynamics among diverse policy actors within a promise of genomics discourse-coalition to produce a range of ideational and material impacts. The promise of ii genomics discourse produced powerful promise of genomics subject-positions from which policy actors perceived their interests, identities and preferences and gained agency, which led to various material impacts, including the transformation of Canada’s research policy framework. The thesis derives valuable insights about how the diverse policy actors involved in the research policy process perceive and are influenced by the promise of science. With the increasing importance of research policy to a range of broader policy priorities underpinned by expectations that science will resolve societal challenges and contribute to socio-economic benefits, this thesis sheds light on how complex research policy decisions are made; it further contributes to understanding the processes that lead to those decisions that increasingly must reconcile the relationship between science and society. iii Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge those individuals who graciously participated in my research by sharing their memories, documents and personal files. I am grateful to Janet Buchanan who so patiently sorted through the hundreds of files so generously provided by Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui. I would also like to acknowledge the science-based departments and agencies, the Library and Archives of Canada and the McGill University Archives who responded so effectively to my multiple formal and informal requests for information. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my supervisor Dr. Creso Sá for his guidance and advice, but also for his intuition in crafting a personalized doctoral experience suited to my interests and goals. My thanks to my committee members Dr. Glen Jones and Dr. Carol Campbell for their thoughtful and thought-provoking comments and feedback on early drafts. To Merli, Helen, Darren, Dan and Eric, it was a pleasure and a privilege to share this experience with you. Thank you for sharing your journey with me. I am so very grateful for Vera and Anne, who guided me through the dark moments and believed in me when I didn’t. Finally, to my husband, René and children Brigitte, Jason and Bailey, who gave me the encouragement and, more importantly, the space to pursue this lifelong dream, I dedicate this work to you. iv Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................................................................... IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................ V LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................. VIII LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................................. IX LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................................................... X LIST OF APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................................... XII CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 THE RESEARCH PROBLEM ............................................................................................................................................... 1 RESEARCH QUESTION .................................................................................................................................................. 11 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ......................................................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 2 THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS ........................................................................................................... 16 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 DISCURSIVE POLICY ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Policy as Discourse ............................................................................................................................................ 17 Discursive Power ............................................................................................................................................... 22 Limitations of Discursive Policy Analysis ........................................................................................................... 35 SOCIOLOGY OF EXPECTATIONS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ............................................................................................. 36 Conceptualizations of Expectations of Science and Technology ....................................................................... 38 Key Contributions of the Sociology of Expectations Literature ......................................................................... 44 CHAPTER SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................................... 49 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH DESIGN ........................................................................................................................... 51 RESEARCH QUESTION .................................................................................................................................................. 51 STUDY DESIGN AND CASE SELECTION .............................................................................................................................. 52 RESEARCH METHODS AND STRATEGIES ........................................................................................................................... 55 Data Item Selection ........................................................................................................................................... 55 Data Item Triage ............................................................................................................................................... 59 Data Item Classification .................................................................................................................................... 60 Data Extract Generation ................................................................................................................................... 61 Thematic Analyses ............................................................................................................................................ 63 Connecting Strategy: Case History Construction .............................................................................................. 64 v BACKGROUND AND HISTORICAL ANALYSES ....................................................................................................................... 65 VALIDITY ................................................................................................................................................................... 66 CHAPTER 4 THE POWER OF THE PROMISE OF GENOMICS DISCOURSE IN SHAPING RESEARCH POLICY ................ 69 INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................................................