Implicit Models of Social Knowledge Use

Abstract

Many studies tacitly view social knowledge use as a transaction between knowledge producers (social scientists) and decision makers (bureaucratic managers, judges), thus framing analysis within an implicit bipolar model of use. Although rarely explicit, such models do entail choices at different levels; they entail (1) methodological choices, (2) conceptual choices regarding how one will view social science's role in public decision making, and (3) choices among broader social philosophies. The choices at each level involve scientific as well as ethical judgments. This article explores an approach to evaluating such judgments. Suggestions for a broader definition of applied social science as praxis emerge from the analysis.