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Transdisciplinary and sociological musings on research, contemporary events and sustainability transitions (mainly)

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Evaluation

Will the impact agenda be a driver of pseudoscience?

March 3, 2018 / Leave a Comment

Yesterday I read an interesting book chapter on the evidence-based practice movement. The author (Dennis M. Gorman from Texas A&M University) argues that is a major driver of pseudoscience in various public health practice areas (the chapter focusses on drug prevention research). Gorman presents evidence of “questionable data analysis practices to produce positive results” – and related gaming … [Read more…]

Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: Evaluation, impact agenda, impact assessment

Thoughts on research impact assessment

January 20, 2018 / Leave a Comment

I’ve been pondering my career options and one trend of interest is the increasing focus on assessing the impact of research activities and investments (link, link, link, link). These assessments are also seen as being inherently challenging (e.g. see link), often highly flawed, and there are important debates about who should do such evaluations and … [Read more…]

Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: Evaluation, impact assessment, Knowledge practices

Knowledge practices and action for sustainability: some questions and gaps needing further examination in 2016

December 29, 2015 / Leave a Comment

I recently reread an important commentary/thought piece on the future of sustainability science which argues that the field needs to substantially change in order “to ensure that science is focused on facilitating sustainability outcomes” (Miller et al. 2014). In particular, these sustainability researchers believe that a stronger focus on contributing to real-world solutions is required … [Read more…]

Posted in: PhD research, Sustainability issues, Sustainability science Tagged: Evaluation, Science and Technology Studies, sustainability science

Dealing with complexity in evaluation, foresight and sustainability practice

March 3, 2014 / Leave a Comment

I’ve just finished reading The Science of Evaluation: A Realist Manifesto by Ray Pawson (SAGE, 2013), which re-states the case for realist forms of evaluation and further explicates ways of doing it (e.g. in systematic reviews). Pawson is Professor of Social Research Methodology at the University of Leeds and he describes social science inquiry as … [Read more…]

Posted in: Complexity, PhD research, Uncategorized Tagged: Evaluation, PhD, sustainability science

The problem of evaluation — and some potential options

September 18, 2013 / 3 Comments

This post discusses some of my recent reading on evaluation, and outlines evaluation issues and options that need to be considered as part of my doctoral project. In an ideal world we could learn which types of interventions produce the best outcomes — be they organisational interventions (e.g. to identify the most effective decision support … [Read more…]

Posted in: Futures practices, PhD research, Uncategorized Tagged: Evaluation, PhD

Key issues in foresight evaluation

June 6, 2013 / Leave a Comment

A great discussion has developed at http://futuristpaul.com in response to a recent post by Paul Higgins titled ‘Futurists, What are they good for?’ In it a bunch of practitioners, myself included, discuss lots of issues relevant to my doctoral research project. Here I’ve collected under different themes some key comments, as well as some quotes from … [Read more…]

Posted in: Futures practices, PhD research Tagged: applied foresight, Evaluation, PhD

Learnings and reflections five months into my PhD

June 5, 2013 / 2 Comments

Broadly speaking, my doctoral project is examining the increasing use of foresight methods for tackling sustainability problems, and their effects. A key focus that’s emerged is inquiring into related practices for enhancing the handling of more “wicked” sustainability problems – for example, as part of participatory governance approaches – and for preventing worse challenges emerging … [Read more…]

Posted in: Futures practices, PhD research Tagged: applied foresight, Evaluation, PhD

Revisiting the original paper on “wicked” problems

May 30, 2013 / 5 Comments

The foresight field has long suggested that modern models of planning and ‘classical approaches’ to policy have serious short-comings. In particular it has critiqued the focus on prediction (‘predict-then-act’) and on control. In my view some of these critiques go too far, such as some colleagues who have argued that we should “rid the world … [Read more…]

Posted in: PhD research, Sustainability issues Tagged: Evaluation, PhD, Wicked problems

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