How Knowledge Brokers Shape the Evidence-Based Policy Landscape
Abstract Knowledge brokers, usually conceptualized as passive intermediaries between scientists and policymakers in evidence-based policymaking, are understudied in the philosophy of science. Here, we challenge that usual conceptualization. As agents in their own right, knowledge brokers have their own goals and incentives, which complicate the effects of their presence at the science–policy interface.We illustrate this in an agent-based model and suggest several avenues for further exploration of the role of knowledge brokers in evidence-based policy.
Authors
- Hannah Rubin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0270-9182)
- Chad L. Hewitt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6859-6512)
- Katie Woolaston (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7652-9347)
- Remco Heesen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3823-944X)
- Emelda E. Chukwu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3110-1678)
- Anne Schwenkenbecher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2207-3043)
- Evangelina Schwindt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6693-9828)
- Veli Mitova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4181-8170)
- Mike D. Schneider (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3303-3664)
- Alejandro Bortolus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3035-315X)
- Temitope O. Sogbanmu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8913-267X)
- Ricardo Kaufer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7641-2456)
- Hanna Metzen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9116-3750)
- Helena Slanickova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5557-9654)
- Li-an Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1210-024X)
Institutions
- Griffith University (AU)
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (TW)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (AR)
- University of Groningen (NL)
- Murdoch University (AU)
- University of Konstanz (DE)
- University of Lagos (NG)
- University of Johannesburg (ZA)
- Lincoln University - Pennsylvania (US)
- ARL – Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association (DE)
- Green Solution (Czechia) (CZ)
- Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagónico (AR)
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical (AR)
- Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NG)
- University of Missouri (US)
- Academia Sinica (TW)
- London School of Economics and Political Science (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Philosophy of Science
- Published
- 2026-07-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2026.10248
- Primary Topic
- Philosophy and History of Science
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- University of Missouri
- University of Pittsburgh
- Volkswagen Foundation
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
- Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
- Universität Bielefeld
- Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Forschung, Universität Bielefeld