Understanding the Impacts of Research Synthesis. Issue 86 (August 2018)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Understanding the Impacts of Research Synthesis. Issue 86 (August 2018)
- Main Title:
- Understanding the Impacts of Research Synthesis
- Authors:
- Wyborn, Carina
Louder, Elena
Harrison, Jerry
Montambault, Jensen
Montana, Jasper
Ryan, Melanie
Bednarek, Angela
Nesshöver, Carsten
Pullin, Andrew
Reed, Mark
Dellecker, Emilie
Kramer, Jonathan
Boyd, James
Dellecker, Adrian
Hutton, Jonathan - Abstract:
- Highlights: Synthesis research is gaining prominence in the science policy landscape. There has been little empirical examination of the impacts of these initiatives on policy and practice. This paper reviews 10 case studies from within biodiversity conservation and natural resource management from around the world. A novel conceptual framework is used to assess the impacts of, and assumptions underpinning the research synthesis. Findings suggest that research synthesis is having various types of impacts on policy and practice. Abstract: Research synthesis is the integration of existing knowledge and research findings pertinent to an issue. The aim of synthesis is to increase the generality and applicability of those findings and to develop new knowledge through the process of integration. Synthesis is promoted as an approach that deals with the challenge of öinformation overload', delivering products that further our understanding of problems and distil relevant evidence for decision-making. However, despite the increasing prominence of synthesis efforts in the science and policy landscape, we know very little about the impacts these initiatives have on research, policy and practice and the assumptions underpinning how they will lead to change. This paper presents a framework for considering the conceptual, strategic, instrumental and network-based impacts of research synthesis on policy. This framework provides insight into the range of underlying assumptions and impactsHighlights: Synthesis research is gaining prominence in the science policy landscape. There has been little empirical examination of the impacts of these initiatives on policy and practice. This paper reviews 10 case studies from within biodiversity conservation and natural resource management from around the world. A novel conceptual framework is used to assess the impacts of, and assumptions underpinning the research synthesis. Findings suggest that research synthesis is having various types of impacts on policy and practice. Abstract: Research synthesis is the integration of existing knowledge and research findings pertinent to an issue. The aim of synthesis is to increase the generality and applicability of those findings and to develop new knowledge through the process of integration. Synthesis is promoted as an approach that deals with the challenge of öinformation overload', delivering products that further our understanding of problems and distil relevant evidence for decision-making. However, despite the increasing prominence of synthesis efforts in the science and policy landscape, we know very little about the impacts these initiatives have on research, policy and practice and the assumptions underpinning how they will lead to change. This paper presents a framework for considering the conceptual, strategic, instrumental and network-based impacts of research synthesis on policy. This framework provides insight into the range of underlying assumptions and impacts on policy and practice from 10 case studies of research synthesis related to contemporary sustainability challenges. Findings suggest that research synthesis is having diverse impacts on research, policy and practice including creating a new understanding of problems, establishing new networks, and contributing to changes in policy and practice. These impacts emerged across a range of contexts, synthesis methods, assumptions and operating models. This suggests that there is no single öcorrect way' to design research synthesis for impact, but rather a need to tailor the approach for the context of intended use. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Environmental science & policy. Issue 86(2018)
- Journal:
- Environmental science & policy
- Issue:
- Issue 86(2018)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 86, Issue 86 (2018)
- Year:
- 2018
- Volume:
- 86
- Issue:
- 86
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2018-0086-0086-0000
- Page Start:
- 72
- Page End:
- 84
- Publication Date:
- 2018-08
- Subjects:
- Synthesis research -- Science policy interface -- Credibility -- Salience -- Legitimacy -- Research impact
Environmental policy -- Periodicals
Environmental sciences -- Periodicals
Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques
Sciences de l'environnement -- Périodiques
Environmental policy
Environmental sciences
Periodicals
Electronic journals
363.70561 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/14629011 ↗
http://www.elsevier.com/journals ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1016/j.envsci.2018.04.013 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1462-9011
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 3791.599550
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 13016.xml