Normative science

In the applied sciences, normative science is a type of information that is developed, presented, or interpreted based on an assumed, usually unstated, preference for a particular policy or class of policies. Regular or traditional science does not presuppose a policy preference, but normative science, by definition, does. Common examples of such policy preferences are pristine ecosystems are preferable to human altered ones, native species are preferable to nonnative species, and higher biodiversity is preferable to lower biodiversity.

In more general philosphical terms, normative science is a form of inquiry, typically involving a community of inquiry and its accumulated body of provisional knowledge, that seeks to discover good ways of achieving recognized aims, ends, goals, objectives, or purposes. Many political debates revolve around arguments over which of the many "good ways" shall be selected. For example, when presented as scientific information, words such as ecosystem health, biology integrity, and degraded ecosystems are typically examples of normative science because they each presuppose a policy preference and are therefore a type of policy advocacy.

See also

• Junk science
• Pseudoscience
• Scientific misconduct
• Descriptive science

• Normative economics
• Descriptive knowledge
• Normative ethics
• Policy advocacy

References

• Brueckner, Martin and Pierre Horwitz. 2005. The use of science in environmental policy: a case study of the Regional Forest Agreement process in Western Australia. Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy. 1(2): 14-24. http://sspp.proquest.com/archives/vol1iss2/0412-017.brueckner.html

• Lackey (2004). Normative Science, Fisheries, American Fisheries Society. http://oregonstate.edu/dept/fw/lackey/NORMATIVE-SCIENCE-FISHERIES-ESSAY-REPRINT-2004.pdf

• Lackey (2007). Science, scientists, and policy advocacy. Conservation Biology. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00639.x/abstract;jsessionid=1E4F2F827867D075DD43D28821A08A13.d03t03?systemMessage=Wiley+Online+Library+will+be+disrupted+3+Dec+from+10-12+GMT+for+monthly+maintenance

• Landis (2009). The Exxon Valdez oil spill revisited and the dangers of normative science. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ieam.5630030312/full