Credibility, salience, and legitimacy of boundary objects: Water managers' assessment of a simulation model in an immersive decision theater

Dave White, Amber Wutich, Kelli Larson, Patricia Gober, Timothy Lant, Clea Senneville

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

214 Scopus citations

Abstract

The connection between scientific knowledge and environmental policy is enhanced through boundary organizations and objects that are perceived to be credible, salient, and legitimate. In this study, water resource decision-makers evaluated the knowledge embedded in WaterSim, an interactive simulation model of water supply and demand presented in an immersive decision theater. Content analysis of individual responses demonstrated that stakeholders were fairly critical of the model's validity, relevance, and bias. Differing perspectives reveal tradeoffs in achieving credible, salient, and legitimate boundary objects, along with the need for iterative processes that engage them in the co-production of knowledge and action.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)219-232
Number of pages14
JournalScience and Public Policy
Volume37
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Public Administration
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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