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Conceptualizing credibility, relevance and legitimacy for evaluating the effectiveness of science–policy interfaces: Challenges and opportunities

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  • Ulrich Heink
  • Elisabeth Marquard
  • Katja Heubach
  • Kurt Jax
  • Carolin Kugel
  • Carsten Neßhöver
  • Rosmarie K. Neumann
  • Axel Paulsch
  • Sebastian Tilch
  • Johannes Timaeus
  • Marie Vandewalle

Abstract

Credibility, relevance and legitimacy are often cited as determinants of the effectiveness of interfaces between science and environmental policy and serve as criteria for their evaluation. However, these concepts are hazy and have a variety of meanings. In practice, the systematic evaluation of science–policy interfaces according to credibility, relevance and legitimacy is subject to a number of difficulties and is rarely done. In this paper we offer some clarification of these concepts and show how they influence the perception and evaluation of science–policy interfaces. Our findings reveal that, while the attributes of credibility, relevance and legitimacy are helpful when reflecting on the effectiveness of science–policy interfaces, they are difficult to apply as criteria when evaluating these interfaces. To apply these concepts in a meaningful way to the task of evaluation they need to be defined specifically for the particular context of the science–policy interface concerned.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulrich Heink & Elisabeth Marquard & Katja Heubach & Kurt Jax & Carolin Kugel & Carsten Neßhöver & Rosmarie K. Neumann & Axel Paulsch & Sebastian Tilch & Johannes Timaeus & Marie Vandewalle, 2015. "Conceptualizing credibility, relevance and legitimacy for evaluating the effectiveness of science–policy interfaces: Challenges and opportunities," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 42(5), pages 676-689.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:scippl:v:42:y:2015:i:5:p:676-689.
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hulme,Mike, 2009. "Why We Disagree about Climate Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521727327.
    2. Hulme,Mike, 2009. "Why We Disagree about Climate Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521898690.
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    Cited by:

    1. Karin M. Gustafsson, 2019. "Learning from the Experiences of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Balancing Science and Policy to Enable Trustworthy Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Timothy R. Petty & John B. Gongwer & William Schnabel, 2018. "Bridging policy and science action boundaries: information influences on US congressional legislative key staff decision making in natural resources," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 51(1), pages 77-96, March.
    3. Jax, Kurt & Furman, Eeva & Saarikoski, Heli & Barton, David N. & Delbaere, Ben & Dick, Jan & Duke, Guy & Görg, Christoph & Gómez-Baggethun, Erik & Harrison, Paula A. & Maes, Joachim & Pérez-Soba, M, 2018. "Handling a messy world: Lessons learned when trying to make the ecosystem services concept operational," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(PC), pages 415-427.
    4. Dhanush Dinesh & Robert B. Zougmore & Joost Vervoort & Edmond Totin & Philip K. Thornton & Dawit Solomon & Paresh B. Shirsath & Valerien O. Pede & Isabel Lopez Noriega & Peter Läderach & Jana Körner &, 2018. "Facilitating Change for Climate-Smart Agriculture through Science-Policy Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Lihua Yang, 2018. "Collaborative knowledge-driven governance: Types and mechanisms of collaboration between science, social science, and local knowledge," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 45(1), pages 53-73.
    6. Heikki Tuomenvirta & Hilppa Gregow & Atte Harjanne & Sanna Luhtala & Antti Mäkelä & Karoliina Pilli-Sihvola & Sirkku Juhola & Mikael Hildén & Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio & Ilkka T. Miettinen & Mikko Halonen, 2019. "Identifying Policy Actions Supporting Weather-Related Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation in Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-15, July.
    7. Tantau Adrian D. & Khorshidi Mohammadreza & Mojarad Ali Asghar Sadeghi, 2017. "International Oil Companies Sustainability after Oil Price decline," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 157-167, July.
    8. Andrew Tracy & Amy Javernick-Will, 2020. "Credible Sources of Information Regarding Induced Seismicity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, March.
    9. Gregory, Amanda J. & Atkins, Jonathan P., 2018. "Community Operational Research and Citizen Science: Two icons in need of each other?," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(3), pages 1111-1124.

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