Industrial constructions of publics and public knowledge
A qualitative investigation of practice in the UK chemicals industry
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20403181 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kate Burningham (0000-0001-9408-6180, University of Surrey, corresponding author), Julie Barnett (0000-0001-5740-0863, University of Surrey), Anna Carr (0000-0002-5193-7579, Social Sciences Programme of the Bureau of Rural Science, Canberra, Australia), Roland Clift (0000-0003-1183-496X, University of Surrey), Walter Wehrmeyer (0000-0002-2536-6573, University of Surrey) |
| Year | 2007 |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 23-43 |
| Publication date | 2007-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Public Understanding of Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0963-6625 • E-ISSN: 1361-6609 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0963662506071285 |
| OpenAlex | W1964313920 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 30 |
| References cited | 23 |
While the rhetoric of public engagement is increasingly commonplace within industry, there has been little research that examines how lay knowledge is conceptualized and whether it is really used within companies. Using the chemicals sector as an example, this paper explores how companies conceive of publics and “public knowledge,” and how this relates to modes of engagement/communication with them. Drawing on qualitative empirical research in four companies, we demonstrate that the public for industry are primarily conceived as “consumers” and “neighbours,” having concerns that should be allayed rather than as groups with knowledge meriting engagement. We conclude by highlighting the dissonance between current advocacy of engagement and the discourses and practices prevalent within industry, and highlight the need for more realistic strategies for industry/public engagement
Business · Cognitive dissonance · Empirical evidence · Empirical research · Epistemology · Political science · Politics · Public engagement · Public relations · Publics · Qualitative research · Rhetoric · Social science · Sociology · Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting · Discourse Analysis in Language Studies · Management and Organizational Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology
Reproduced, reinterpreted, lost
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| Unique citing works | 30 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,58 |
| Citation span | 2007 - 2026 (20) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 29 |