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Users and unicorns: A discussion of mythical beasts in interactive science

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Users and unicorns: A discussion of mythical beasts in interactive science. / Shove, Elizabeth; Rip, Arie.
In: Science and Public Policy, Vol. 27, No. 3, 01.06.2000, p. 175-182.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Shove, E & Rip, A 2000, 'Users and unicorns: A discussion of mythical beasts in interactive science', Science and Public Policy, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 175-182. https://doi.org/10.3152/147154300781781959

APA

Shove, E., & Rip, A. (2000). Users and unicorns: A discussion of mythical beasts in interactive science. Science and Public Policy, 27(3), 175-182. https://doi.org/10.3152/147154300781781959

Vancouver

Shove E, Rip A. Users and unicorns: A discussion of mythical beasts in interactive science. Science and Public Policy. 2000 Jun 1;27(3):175-182. doi: 10.3152/147154300781781959

Author

Shove, Elizabeth ; Rip, Arie. / Users and unicorns : A discussion of mythical beasts in interactive science. In: Science and Public Policy. 2000 ; Vol. 27, No. 3. pp. 175-182.

Bibtex

@article{609f400005f84bfdabc7a92258df4847,
title = "Users and unicorns: A discussion of mythical beasts in interactive science",
abstract = "The UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has placed considerable emphasis on the users of the research it supports. Researchers have in turn pointed to the potential uses of the work they do as a means of demonstrating relevance. However, to date, researchers and research funders have succumbed to the temptation of constructing and then believing in users of their own making. The over-reliance on an embodied notion of use and uncritical acceptance of associated pathways of influence is understandable but unnecessary. There are other ways of conceptualising and identifying use, but these require researchers and funders to develop and work with more convincing models of knowledge diffusion and relevance. In short, the challenge is to understand better the process of use even if that means abandoning the comforting fairy-tale of the research user.",
author = "Elizabeth Shove and Arie Rip",
year = "2000",
month = jun,
day = "1",
doi = "10.3152/147154300781781959",
language = "English",
volume = "27",
pages = "175--182",
journal = "Science and Public Policy",
issn = "0302-3427",
publisher = "Beech Tree Publishing",
number = "3",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Users and unicorns

T2 - A discussion of mythical beasts in interactive science

AU - Shove, Elizabeth

AU - Rip, Arie

PY - 2000/6/1

Y1 - 2000/6/1

N2 - The UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has placed considerable emphasis on the users of the research it supports. Researchers have in turn pointed to the potential uses of the work they do as a means of demonstrating relevance. However, to date, researchers and research funders have succumbed to the temptation of constructing and then believing in users of their own making. The over-reliance on an embodied notion of use and uncritical acceptance of associated pathways of influence is understandable but unnecessary. There are other ways of conceptualising and identifying use, but these require researchers and funders to develop and work with more convincing models of knowledge diffusion and relevance. In short, the challenge is to understand better the process of use even if that means abandoning the comforting fairy-tale of the research user.

AB - The UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has placed considerable emphasis on the users of the research it supports. Researchers have in turn pointed to the potential uses of the work they do as a means of demonstrating relevance. However, to date, researchers and research funders have succumbed to the temptation of constructing and then believing in users of their own making. The over-reliance on an embodied notion of use and uncritical acceptance of associated pathways of influence is understandable but unnecessary. There are other ways of conceptualising and identifying use, but these require researchers and funders to develop and work with more convincing models of knowledge diffusion and relevance. In short, the challenge is to understand better the process of use even if that means abandoning the comforting fairy-tale of the research user.

U2 - 10.3152/147154300781781959

DO - 10.3152/147154300781781959

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:0033790962

VL - 27

SP - 175

EP - 182

JO - Science and Public Policy

JF - Science and Public Policy

SN - 0302-3427

IS - 3

ER -