Knowledge mobilization in multiple contexts - A framework for sociological contribution

This analysis, grounded in two empirical studies, examines the concept and the practice of Knowledge Mobilization (KM) through an examination of different empirical contexts. We argue that the potential contribution of the social scientist (and the focus of the study of KM) changes according to the knowledge context, and explore how sociologists are positioned to play a role in the process of KM both in the context of innovation and in interdisciplinary analysis.

The first of these studies centres upon a ‘production science’ setting, where the KM research focus is on how discoveries in a laboratory setting take place, are negotiated through various processes, and may ultimately become implemented as a pharmaceutical product. We argue that, in such a context, the role of the social scientist is limited to an analysis of ‘knowledge networks’ and different kinds of capital, including social capital and what we term ‘knowledge capital’. The social scientist’s role is as observer or outsider, and the contribution is limited to an assessment of current practices as well as an exploration of possible future outcomes.

The second study is an ‘evaluation science’ context where the social scientist is directly inteagrated into a team of natural scientists examining the impact of climate change on ecosystems and local communities. In this case, social science knowledge is a part of the KM process. We argue that here that the social scientist plays an integral role in not only an examination of KM, but also as a direct participant in KM processes. This results in potential contributions that are more complex, requiring the social scientist to: (a) establish the validity of social science knowledge (amongst other types of scientific knowledge); (b) integrate local ‘knowledges’ with both scientific and social scientific knowledge; and, (c) incorporate this KM process into broader public policy responses.