Turnhout ch8

Question 1

What is lay expertise?

Answer 1

Non-scientific forms of knowledge

Question 2

In what ways may lay expertise differ from scientific expertise?

(6)

Answer 2

• Contextualised and localised rather than universal
• Culturally embedded rather than objective
• Tactic and informal rather than explicit and formalised
• Practised and experience based rather than based upon methodological principles
• Intuitive (emotional) rather than cognitive (sensible)
• Holistic (comprehensive) rather than reductionist (simplistic)

Question 3

Describe the concept of situatedness

(3)–>

Answer 3

• All knowledge, scientific or lay, is partial
• All knowledge is generated in specific contexts in social processes
• All knowledge’s validity is assessed in equally contextual and social processes
  –> science is a site in which a special kind of localised and contextualised knowledge is produced

Question 4

What are three reasons for participatory approaches in knowledge production?

Answer 4

• Normative reasons related to democratic rights and principles
• Substantive reasons related to the expected higher quality of knowledge
• Instrumental reasons that highlight the increased uptake of knowledge and the effectiveness of resulting policy

Question 5

Why is implementation of participatory knowledge production complicated?

(4)

Answer 5

• It requires different types of skills and expertise, including social skills related to involving stakeholders and organising and facilitating the processes
• There is a significant power dimension to the processes
• The participation of non-scientists is often constrained by a perceived lack of skills, education, and eloquence (a skillful way with words), or by the limited availability of time and resources
• The scope of participation is often limited by preconceived ideas, or frames