Just the Facts,Please:Framing and Technical Information

摘要

We use the concept of framing to explore how information producers and users understand,interpret,and interact with the technical and scientific fact-finding efforts associated with environmental disputes.We introduce three key categories of fact-finding frames that describe how stakeholders think about research objectives,trust and certainty,and technical communication.We illustrate these frames and their effects on the fact-finding process with examples drawn from environmental disputes.We suggest a number of strategies that could improve the ways in which experts,decision makers,environmental professionals,and the lay public deal with the factual basis of environmental issues.