Skip to main content
Log in

Measuring knowledge utilization: Processes and outcomes

  • Published:
Knowledge and Policy

Abstract

Studies of knowledge utilization in public policy-making have important practical and theoretical implications. Accordingly, a voluminous work has been done on understanding and explaining the process of knowledge utilization (see Rich and Oh, 1993). However, we can easily find that there is the conspicuous absence of a greatly expanded understanding of the use of knowledge from those studies (Mandell and Sauter, 1984). Taken as a whole, empirical studies in the area of knowledge utilization have suffered from several critical problems (see Rich, 1991; Oh, 1996a). More importantly, there appears to be serious conceptual and methodological gaps which need to be filled. This article focuses on one of the most significant methodological problems: measuring “knowledge utilization” from an evaluation perspective and offers some suggestions for future studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bardach, E. (1984). The Dissemination of Policy Research to Policymakers.Knowledge, vol. 6:125–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth, T. (1990). Researching Policy Research: Issues of Utilization in Decision Making.Knowledge, vol. 12:80–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bozeman, B. and S. Bretschneider (1986). Public Management Information System: Theory and Practice.Public Administration Review (special issues):475–487.

  • Bulmer, M. (1981). Applied Social Research: A Reformulation of “Applied” and “Enlightment” Models.Knowledge, vol. 3:187–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvert, R.L. (1985). The Value of Biased Information: Rational Choice Model of Political Advice.Journal of Politics, vol. 47:530–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D.T., and J.C. Stanley (1966).Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs for Research. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, N., A. Morrison, and R.J. Stambaugh (1975).The Use of Social Science Knowledge in Policy Decisions at the National Level. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, N. (1979). Two Communities Theory and Knowledge Utilization.American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 22:459–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, T.D., J. Levinson-Rose, and W.E. Pollard (1980). The Mis-Utilization of Evaluation Research: Some Pitfalls of Definition.Knowledge, vol. 1:477–498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, T.D., and D.T. Campbell (1986).Quasi-Experimental Designs. Chicago: Rand McNally.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, T.D. (1978). Introduction. In: T.D. Cook et al. (eds.)Evaluation Studies Review, vol. 3:13–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunn, W., 1983. Measuring Knowledge Use.Knowledge, vol. 5:120–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, M. and J. March (1981). Decision in Organizations and Theories of Choice. In: A. Van de Ven and W.J. Joyce (eds.)Prescripts on Organizational Design and Performance. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregg, G., T. Preston, A. Geist, and N. Caplan (1979). The Caravan Rolls On: Forty Years of Social Problem Research.Knowledge, vol. 1:31–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, I.L. (1975).The Rise and Fall of Project Camelot. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knorr, K. (1977). Policymakers’ Use of Social Science Knowledge: Symbolic or Instrumental? In: C.H. Weiss (ed.)Using Social Research in Public Policy-making. Lexington: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, J.K., and P.D. Werner (1981). Measuring Utilization of Mental Health Program Consultation. In: J. Ciarlo (ed.) Utilizing Evaluation:Concepts and Measurement Techniques. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leviton, L.C. and E.F.X. Hughes (1981). Research on the Utilization of Evaluation.Evaluation Review, vol. 5:525–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindblom, C.E. and D.K., Cohen (1979). Usable Knowledge:Social Science and Social Problem Solving. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machlup, F. (1980).Knowledge and Knowledge Production. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Majone, G. (1989).Evidence, Arguments and Persuasion in the Policy Process. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • March, J. and H. Simon (1958).Organizations. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, C.E. et al. (1987). The Utilization of Social Science Information by Policy Makers.American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 30:569–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oh, C.H. (1992). Rationality, Organizational Interest, and Information Searching in Government Bureaucracy. Paper presented at the annual meeting of American Society for Public Administration, Chicago.

  • Oh, C.H. (1996a). Linking Social Science Information to Policy-making. Greenwich: The JAI Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oh, C.H. (1996b). Information Searching in Government Bureaucracies.American Review of Public Administration, vol. 26:41–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelz, D.C. and J.A. Horsley (1981). Measuring Utilization of Nursing Research. In: J. Ciarlo (ed.)Utilizing Evaluation: Concepts and Measurement Techniques. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rein, M. and S.H. White (1977). Policy Research: Belief and Doubt.Policy Analysis, vol. 3:239–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich, R.F., (1975). Selective Utilization of Social Science Related Information by Federal Policy-makers.Inquiry, vol.13.

  • Rich, R.F. (1977). Uses of Social Science Information by Federal Bureaucrats: Knowledge for Action versus Knowledge for Understanding. In: C.H. Weiss (ed)Using Social Research in Public Policy-making. Lexington: Lexington Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich, R.F. (1981).Social Science Information and Public Policy-making. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich, R.F. (1991). Knowledge Creation, Dissemination, and Utilization.Knowledge, vol. 12:319–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rich, R.F., and C.H. Oh (1993). Utilization of Policy Research. In: S. Nagel (ed)Encyclopedia of Policy Studies (2nd ed.). New York: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich, R.F., and C.H. Oh (1995). Information Processing and Rationality in Policy Decisions. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL (April 6–8).

  • Rossi, P., and H.E. Freeman (1993).Evaluation. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunesson, S. and K. Nilsson (1988). Explaining Research Utilization.Knowledge, vol. 10:140–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van de Vall, M. and C. Bolas (1982). Using Social Policy Research for Reducing Social Problems.Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, vol. 18:48–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webber, D. (1987). Legislators’ Use of Policy Information.American Behavioral Scientist, vol. 30: 612–631.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, C.H. (1977). Introduction. In: C.H. Weiss and Bucuvalas (eds.)Using Social Science in Public Policy-making. Lexington: Lexington-Heath.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, C.H. and M.J. Bucuvalas (1980).Social Science Research and Decision-making. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, C.H. (1980). Knowledge Creep and Decision Accretion.Knowledge, vol. 1:381–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaltman, G. (1979). Knowledge Utilization as Planned Social Change.Knowledge, vol. 1:82–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaltman, G. and R. Deshpande (1980). The Use of Marketing Research: An Exploratory Study of Manager and Researcher Perspectives. Report No. 80-115. Cambridge: Marketing Science Institute.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert F. Rich.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rich, R.F. Measuring knowledge utilization: Processes and outcomes. Knowledge and Policy 10, 11–24 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02912504

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02912504

Keywords

Navigation