1 research outputs found
Using knowledge for decision-making purposes
Abstract:
Policy-related research in general, and Impact Assessments in particular, are too loosely
connected to decision-making processes. The result is often sub-optimal or even undesirable, as
one of two situations arises: 1) much research is done; however, those with the real power to
make decisions do not make use of all of the resulting information, or 2) advocates of contrary
opinions struggle with each other, using policy-related research as ammunition. To avoid these
unwanted situations, the connection between the world of knowledge and the world of decisionmaking
should be carefully constructed, by connecting the process of decision-making to the
academic research and carefully developing research goals in response to the demands of
decision-makers. By making these connections in a stepwise manner, knowledge may generate
new insights and views for involved decision-makers and stakeholders, thus changing
perceptions and problem definitions. In this way, these actors learn about the possibilities of
several alternatives as well as each other’s perceptions, and thus can make educated decisions
leading to the most desirable and socially acceptable solution. The way this proposed method
works is illustrated using two cases in The Netherlands: the project “Mainport Rotterdam” (the
enlargement of the port of Rotterdam), the project “A fifth runway for Amsterdam Airport
(Schiphol)”