The use of social science knowledge by policymakers has fallen short of what many social
scientists would prefer. Research that supports this conclusion may be flawed by a
methodological bias that overlooks the variety of knowledge sources used by decision
makers. A survey of social workers that measures knowledge use from the perspective of
the user, rather than the producer, of information identifies three types of knowledge
sources, all of which are integrated in the decision-making process. We argue here for a
shift in the direction of knowledge utilization research that will recognize similarities
between knowledge use and knowledge creation.
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