Integrated research in natural resources
Subtitle: the key role of problem framing
By: Roger N. Clark and George H. Stankey.
Contributors: Stankey, George H.; Pacific Northwest Research Station (Portland, Or.)
Series: General technical report PNW -- GTR-678.; General technical report PNW -- 678.
Publisher: U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Portland, OR
Language: eng
Number of pages: 63
Subjects: Northwest Forest Plan (U.S.); Forest policy -- Economic aspects -- Northwest, Pacific.; Forest policy -- Social aspects -- Northwest, Pacific.; Forests and forestry -- Economic aspects -- Northwest, Pacific.; Forests and forestry -- Social aspects -- Northwest, Pacific.; Forestry and community -- Northwest, Pacific.
Description: Integrated research is about achieving holistic understanding of complex biophysical and social issues and problems. It is driven by the need to improve understanding about such systems and to improve resource management by using the results of integrated research processes. Traditional research tends to fragment complex problems, focusing more on the pieces of problems rather than the whole that comprises multiple interrelationships and interactions. The outcome is that a lot is known about the parts (e.g., recreation, fish, and wildlife) but relatively little about how they are interrelated. There seems to be general agreement that integrated questions must drivethe search for integrated understanding, but tradition, inertia, institutional culture, budgets, training, and lack of effective leadership foster reductionism (at worst) or minimal degrees of integration (at best) rather than any substantial, sustainable effort toward integrated research.In this paper, a phased approach to framing integrated research questions and addressing the substantial barriers that impede integrated efforts are discussed. A key conclusion is that to make any significant progress toward comprehensive integrated research will require more than rhetoric. Progress must begin with more effective leadership throughout various levels of research organizations.
Notes: "July 2006."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-63).

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