A social scientific approach

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• A social scientific approach
• of environment health
• in policy practice
• Hans Keune (University of Antwerp)
• Reporter Fred Woudenberg (Netherlands)
• Synthesising Research results of
• the Flemish Centre of Expertise for Environment
  and Health
• Brussels, 15 December 2006

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What do scientists of the Centre for Environment
Health study?
toxicologists study pollutants
medical experts study health effects
What do social scientists of the Centre for
Health Environment (EH) study?
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Social actors in Environment Health
Medical expert
Toxicologist
Minister of envir.
Minister of health
Dep. of health
Dep. of envir.
Social scientist
Envir. org
Industr. org
Ordinary citizen
Group of local people discussing envir. health
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having a lot of (research) questions
A social scientist in the Centre for Environment
Health
Typical social scientist
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Who will a social scientist turn to
when feeling ill?orin case of an
environmental problem?orwhen feeling down and
out about work in the Centre for Environment
Health?
Social scientist
Medical expert
Toxicologist
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Who will a social scientist turn to
Minister of envir.
Minister of health
Dep. of health
Dep. of envir.
for discussing policy relevant scientific
research on environment health?
Social scientist
Medical expert
Toxicologist
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Division of professional labour
Different scientific disciplines medical,
environmental, social science
Different responsibilities science policy
Different perspectives, knowledge, questions,
expectations, agendas
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Who will a social scientist turn to
Medical expert
Toxicologist
Minister of envir.
Minister of health
Dep. of health
Dep. of envir.
for discussing the societal meaning of
environment health data? In principle all of
them
Group of local people discussing envir. health
Social scientist
Envir. org
Industr. org
Ordinary citizen
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Two main research questions

• 1. What is the societal meaning of knowledge on
  EH? (knowledge production use)
• 2. How can social science best fit in with other
  research in Centre EH? (social scientific
  approach)

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1.a Knowledge in general

• System knowledge nature of a problem and complex
  constellation of relevant parameters (empirical
  aspects)
• Target knowledge diversity of problem related
  visions, opinions, norms values, goals
  (normative aspects)
• Transformation knowledge practical solutions
  opportunities (pragmatic aspects)

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1.b Knowledge on EH

• What is socially relevant knowledge on EH? Who
  are relevant knowledge providers?
• What is the societal meaning of knowledge on EH?
• What translation to practice is possible? (e.g.
  policy practice)

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1.c Object - process

• Social scientific reflex too much an object
  oriented approach lack of attention for process
  aspects
• Extra research question how can socially
  relevant knowledge be generated?

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1.d Example action plan

• What to do with the biomonitoring data?
• First reflex of science policy (more object
  oriented expert focus) pile up more more
  scientific data, knowledge
• Social scientific reflex (more process oriented
  societal perspective)
• Whose knowledge and interpretation is relevant?
• Main criteria of interpretation? ( policy
  society)
• Decision making procedure communication
• Cooperative Result process of knowledge
  collection-interpret.-prioritization-pract.
  translation involving experts, policymakers
  society desk research, expert round, jury

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2. Social scientific approach

• 2.a Social scientific methods..
• 2.b Social scientific reflection..
• 2.c Exemplary action research..

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2.a Social scientific methods..

• Multi method/mixed methods/triangulation one
  central research question (focus groups, juries,
  Delphi round, risk perception, risk
  communication)
• Other actors (want to) use these methods more and
  more (e.g. participation)
• Social scientific research on process of
  knowledge production-interpretation-use

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2.b Social scientific reflection..

• Boundary work debate, cooperation...
• Different scientific disciplines
• Science policy
• Science policy society
• Example interviews actors C of EH
• Scientists policy representatives
• Some conclusions
• Lack of time attention for these specific
  aspects
• Traditional (disciplinary) org of science is a
  barrier
• Need for a societal perspective in the work

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2.c Exemplary action research..

• Action (practice) oriented
• Cooperative relevant perspectives
• Exemplary
• Learning by doing
• Try out of problem solving strategies with regard
  to central issues (incl. experimental)
• Designed in cooperation
• Realistic (policy reflex!)
• Interactive trust building, common vocabulary,
  influence of power relations, openness for other
  perspectives (knowledge-opinions), validity via
  negotiation cooperation

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3. Lessons from practice

• No laboratory work
• From the 10 commandments to a stubborn
  practise unforeseen complexities
• Humans talk back, molecules dont
• Not just a matter of transferring social
  scientific knowledge methods
• Need for constant cooperation and reflection no
  cookery book (e.g. ToVo)
• Perspectives sitting at the table resonate in
  the outcomes and communication
• Lack of time attention for reflection

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4. Conclusion

• Emancipation of social science from perceived as
  communicators to communication advice research
  to partners in research policymaking
• Communicators when the job is finished (research
  interpretation) the people of the
  communication have to translate it to society
• Communication advice research modern risk
  communication reflection
• Partners in research policymaking
  complementary expertise, perspectives
  reflection e.g. action-plan
• Complex but interesting and fruitful work