The utilization of scientific knowledge :

Abstract

The dissertation then examines S&PP's utilization strategy to foster these concepts. The stratgy fostered awareness and interest, trust and credibility, and new information; and influenced organizational interests and timing.

S&PP tried to foster awareness, interest, trust, and credibility among users of its research through four mechanisms: (1) advisory committee, (2) stakeholder review, (3) personal interaction, and, (4) presentation and packaging of research products. Using multiple indicators, six barriers to utilization of Energy From the West: (1) awareness and interest, (2) trust and credibility, (3) presentation, (4) organizational interests, (5) provision of new information, and, (6) timing of report.

The results suggest an active role for researchers in the utilization process. Four guidelines for a such role are synthesized: (1) early involvement, (2) continuing relationships, (3) responsiveness to user's needs, and, (4) facilitating communication with users. The dissertation identifies and discusses the ethical questions these roles raise and makes recommendations for improving S&PP's utilization strategy.

This dissertation examines researchers' abilities and roles in promoting use of their research. It evaluates the participatory research strategy used by the Science and Public Policy Program (S&PP) in Energy From the West, a technology assessment of Western energy development. Three "perspectives" of the research process are assessed. The first, the engineering view of utilization as the direct use of research, is the basis of most utilization literature, but it is somewhat inappropriate for Energy From the West. The two other perspectives, enlightenment and intelligence use of research, which reflect the uncertainty and lack of consensus characteristic of social research, provide more insight into the potential utilization of Energy From the West and the factors influencing that potential.