Doctoral Dissertation Research: The Role of Science in the Creation of Endangered Species Policy

本研究将探讨科学在美国濒危物种政策形成中的作用。特别是，该项目将使用西印度海牛作为纵向案例研究。该项目将实现三个主要目标。首先，它将研究何时以及如何将科学知识纳入政策。其次，它将探索科学家在制定生物多样性政策的过程中发挥的作用。最后，它将确定在政策形成和实施过程中，社会、文化、政治和经济因素在什么时候、以及为什么优先于科学的使用。以西印度海牛为纵向案例研究，将采用多种研究方法来实现这些目标。具体而言，研究人员将对发表的有关海牛的科学文献进行内容分析，对制定海牛恢复和保护政策的文件进行内容分析，并对负责制定海牛恢复和保护政策的关键人物进行个人访谈。通过记录和分析科学与濒危物种政策之间联系的过程，研究结果将对科学家、自然资源管理者和立法者有用。这项研究还将为科学在决策过程中的社会学意义提供新的知识。

This study will examine the role of science in the formation of United States endangered species policy. In particular, the project will use the West Indian manatee as a longitudinal case study. The project will accomplish three major goals. First, it will examine when and how scientific knowledge is incorporated into policy. Second, it will explore the role that scientists play in the process of creating biodiversity policy. Finally, it will identify what, when, and why social, cultural, political and economic factors preempt the use of science in the process of policy formation and implementation. Using the West Indian manatee as a longitudinal case study, multiple research methods will be used to achieve these goals. Specifically, researchers will use content analysis of scientific literature published on the manatee, content analysis of documents establishing policy directed at manatee recovery and protection, and personal interviews of key persons responsible for the creation of policy regarding manatee recovery and protection. The research findings will be useful to scientists, natural resource managers, and legislators by documenting and analyzing the process through which linkages are made between science and endangered species policy. The research will also contribute new knowledge about the sociological significance of science in the policymaking process.