Using social values in the prioritization of research: Quantitative examples and generalizations

Area of Science:

• Ecological modeling
• Conservation biology
• Natural resource management

Background:

• Effective research prioritization is crucial for informing natural resource management decisions.
• Current approaches often overlook the social values and objectives of resource managers.
• Integrating ecological dynamics with human utility is essential for robust decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a method for prioritizing research in harvested populations using Expected Value of Perfect Information (EVPI).
• To compare EVPI-derived research priorities with traditional matrix elasticity analyses.
• To explore the influence of social values on research prioritization in ecological management.

Main Methods:

• Application of EVPI to harvest decisions using density-independent matrix population models.
• Utilizing a density-dependent harvest model to assess the value of information on population productivity.
• Incorporating social utility functions to represent risk and reward in harvest strategies.

Main Results:

• EVPI-identified research priorities differ from those identified by matrix elasticity analyses that exclude social utility.
• The value of information regarding population productivity is sensitive to social penalties for estimation errors.
• The impact of social values on harvest decisions varies with population models, vital rate uncertainty, and utility functions.

Conclusions:

• EVPI analyses incorporating social utility can guide managers in optimizing research and monitoring investments.
• Prioritizing research requires a synthesis of ecological data and social values for effective natural resource management.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration between ecologists and social scientists is vital for quantitative value assessment in structured decision-making.