The relationship between the application and effects of science and its influencing factors: an empirical study in northern China

ABSTRACT

Science plays an important role in various types of public and environmental policy and governance. People often intuitively assume that higher extents (amount) of the application of science-based measures must lead to increased effects of science application. Based on an empirical case study of desertification control in northern China, however, this study found that the relationship between the extent and effect of scientific application followed a cubic rather than a simplified linear relationship and was influenced by a set of factors, including biophysical conditions, science itself, interactions between organizations and social actors, and other supporting elements (such as financial, technical, institutional, and moral or spiritual support). The study also developed a framework for analyzing factors that influence the extents and effects of scientific application and the deviation between the two. These findings provide concrete instructions for both policy-makers and practitioners to improve the effect of scientific application in public and environmental governance at both local and international levels.

KEYWORDS:

• Scientific application
• scientists
• science policy
• environmental governance
• environmental policy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the two Key Projects of National Social Science Fund of China (14ZDB143 and 18VZL001).

Notes on contributors

Lihua Yang

Lihua Yang is a professor of public administration and the director of the Department of Public Policy at the School of Government and a research professor at the Institute of State Governance, Peking University. His research interests include public administration, public policy, environmental governance and policy, and research methods.