Masters Dissertation Example

2.2.2 Use of literature by practitioners and institutions 
The majority of studies to date have focused upon use of research from an institutional or 
policy perspective, and suggest that the figures generated by Ormerod et al (2002) and 
Flashpohler et al (2000) could be considered over-optimistic. Pullin et al (2004) investigated 
the use of scientific information by various conservation institutions in the UK. Evidence for 
consultation of primary literature was found in only 11% of management plans. Questionnaire 
respondents cited existing management plans and expert opinion as the most frequently used 
sources of information, with published scientific papers lagging at 23%, although it is worth 
noting that the ‘experts’ in question may have consulted the literature. However, 75% of 
respondents stated that experience based information (qualitative and expert opinion), rather 
than evidence-based (quantitative assessment and experimental analysis), was paramount. 
Comparing the use of information in the UK to that of Australian conservation organisations 
(Pullin & Knight, 2005) showed a much higher level of uptake of 69% in Australia, three 
times the level of uptake reported in the UK. That the conclusion of a low use of scientific 

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information in management plan design was generalised to both countries perhaps slightly 
weakens the position, and highlights the need for a wider assessment not limited to one 
particular group of organisations or political and bureaucratic climate.
Nevertheless, convincing statistics as to the lack of use of scientific research were presented, 
similar to the situation at Broadlands (an important wetland area in the UK), where only 2% of 
actions were based upon primary literature (Sutherland et al, 2004), and similar gaps have 
been identified in the design of nature reserves (Prendergast et al, 1999). There was also found 
to be little evidence collected or reported on the consequences of conservation actions to 
inform future action (Sutherland et al, 2004), a problem also identified by Pullin & Knight 
(2005).