Professor Robert Evans

Professor

: evansrj1@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44(0) 29 2087 4034
Fax:: +44 (0)29 2087 4175
: 2.19, Glamorgan Building

: Media commentator
: Available for postgraduate supervision

My academic home is in the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS), and my interests are in the nature and use of expertise. This translates into questions about the sorts of knowledge needed to make decisions, who possesses it, and how it is shared and acted upon.

Within STS, my work has played a central role in founding what has been called 'Studies of Expertise and Experience' or the 'Third Wave of Science Studies.' The characteristic features of this approach are a more 'realist' approach to expertise that emphasises the role of tacit knowledge and the development of a more explicitly normative approach through which STS scholars can contribute to technological decision-making in the public domain.

I joined the School of Social Sciences in January 1998, following a 2 year research post at the Centre for Urban Technology in the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and a brief spell as a Teaching Fellow at the LSE.

In the 20+ years that I have been in Cardiff, I have taught social research methods – qualitative and quantitative – and science and technology studies across the full range of our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. I have also taken on a range of administrative roles, most recently Director of Teaching and Learning (2015-2020).

Throughout this time, my research work has been devoted to developing the ‘Third Wave of Science Studies’, also known as ‘Studies of Expertise and Experience’. The origins of this can be traced to a 2002 paper, co-authored with Professor Harry Collins, that has given rise to a variety if theoretical, methodological and empirical projects. Perhaps the most satisfying of these has been the SEESHOP workshops that have been held every year since 2007, with this edited collection – The third wave in science and technology studies: future research directions on expertise and experience – containing some of the more recent contributions.

Professional memberships

Editorial Board Member: Social Studies of Science; Methodological Innovations Online
Member of Society for Social Studies of Science (4S)
Fellow of Higher Education Academy (formerly ILT) since 2003

Speaking engagements

Department of Science and Technology Studies, UCL (London, 5 May 2021)
US-European Summit on Talent Development (planned for Berkeley, April 2020; held online April 2021)
Experts under pressure workshop (Magdalene College, Cambridge, February 2020)
Swiss Anthropological Association (Zurich, November 2018)
Annual Meeting of the Lithuanian Sociological Association (Klapedia, November 2018)
Russian History and Philosophy of Science Society (Moscow, September 2018)
‘Researching Expertise’ guest lecture, Royal Holloway (London June 2017)
House of Commons Select Committee hearing on science communication (London, November 2016)
Tsinghua University STS Summer School (Beijing, September 2016)
Trust in Economics workshop (Milan, January 2016)

Committees and reviewing

Reviewer for journals and research funding bodies, some of which is recorded on my publons profile.
ESRC Grant Assessment Panel (2016-2020)

2021

Evans, R.et al. 2021. Evaluating the Imitation Game as a method for comparative research: a replication study using Imitation Games about religion. International Journal of Social Research Methodology
Evans, R. 2021. SAGE advice and political decision-making: 'following the science' in times of epistemic uncertainty. Social Studies of Science

2020

Collins, H.et al. 2020. Experts and the will of the people: society, populism and science. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave. (10.1007/978-3-030-26983-8)

2019

Collins, H. and Evans, R. 2019. Studies of expertise and experience: a sociological perspective on expertise. In: Ward, P. et al. eds. The Oxford Handbook of Expertise. Oxford Handbooks Online, (10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198795872.013.4)
Evans, R.et al. 2019. Groups and individuals: conformity and diversity in the performance of gendered identities. British Journal of Sociology 70(4), pp. 1561-1581. (10.1111/1468-4446.12507)
Collins, H.et al. 2019. Bonfire Night and Burns Night: Using the Imitation Game to research English and Scottish identities. In: Caudill, D. S. et al. eds. The Third Wave in Science and Technology Studies: Future Research Directions on Expertise and Experience. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 109-131., (10.1007/978-3-030-14335-0_7)

2018

Collins, H. and Evans, R. 2018. A sociological/philosophical perspective on expertise: the acquisition of expertise through socialization. In: Ericsson, K. A. et al. eds. The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. Cambridge Univeristy Press, pp. 21-32., (10.1017/9781316480748.002)

2017

Collins, H. and Evans, R. 2017. A general theory of the use of technology in sport and some consequences. In: Schulenkorf, N. and Frawley, S. eds. Critical Issues in Global Sport Management. Routledge, pp. 219-237.
Collins, H.et al. 2017. The Imitation Game and the nature of mixed methods. Journal of Mixed Methods Research 11(4), pp. 510-527. (10.1177/1558689815619824)
Collins, H. M., Evans, R. J. and Weinel, M. 2017. STS as science or politics. Social Studies of Science 47(4), pp. 580-586. (10.1177/0306312717710131)
Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2017. The bearing of studies of expertise and experience on ethnography. Qualitative Inquiry 23(6), pp. 445-451.
Collins, H. and Evans, R. 2017. Probes, surveys, and the ontology of the social. Journal of Mixed Methods Research 11(3), pp. 328-341. (10.1177/1558689815619825)
Collins, H. and Evans, R. 2017. Why democracies need science. Cambridge and Malden, MA: Polity Press.
Collins, H., Evans, R. and Weinel, M. 2017. Interactional expertise. In: Felt, U. et al. eds. Handbook of Scinece and Technology Studies (4th Edition). MIT Press, pp. 765-792.
Collins, H., Evans, R. and Higgins, C. 2017. Bad call: Technology's attack on referees and umpires and how to fix it. MIT Press.

2016

Collins, H. and Evans, R. 2016. A thousand words is worth a picture. Social Studies of Science 46(2), pp. 312-324. (10.1177/0306312716637437)
Collins, H. M., Evans, R. J. and Weinel, M. 2016. Expertise revisited, Part II: Contributory expertise. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 56, pp. 103-110. (10.1016/j.shpsa.2015.07.003)
Collins, H. M.et al. 2016. Modelling architecture in the world of expertise. Room One Thousand 4, pp. 24-34.

2015

Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2015. Expertise revisited, Part I - interactional expertise. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 54, pp. 113-123. (10.1016/j.shpsa.2015.07.004)
Fisher, E.et al. 2015. Mapping the integrative field: taking stock of socio-technical collaborations. Journal of Responsible Innovation 2(1), pp. 39-61. (10.1080/23299460.2014.1001671)
Evans, R. 2015. What is expertise? Technical knowledge and political judgment. In: Villumsen Berling, T. and Bueger, C. eds. Security Expertise: Practice, Power, Responsibility. PRIO New Security Studies Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 19-36.

2014

Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2014. Actor and analyst: A response to Coopmans and Button. Social Studies of Science 44(5), pp. 786-792. (10.1177/0306312714546242)
Evans, R. J. 2014. Expert advisers: why economic forecasters can be useful even when they are wrong. In: Martini, C. and Boumans, M. eds. Experts and Consensus in Social Science. Ethical Economy Vol. 50. Springer International, pp. 233-252.
Evans, R. J. 2014. Science and democracy in the third wave: Elective modernism not epistocracy. In: Holst, C. ed. Expertise and Democracy. Oslo, Norway: ARENA, Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo, pp. 85-102.

2013

Evans, R. J. and Crocker, H. 2013. The Imitation Game as a method for exploring knowledge(s) of chronic illness. Methodological Innovations Online 8(1), pp. 34-52. (10.4256/mio.2013.003)
Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2013. Quantifying the tacit: the imitation game and social fluency. Sociology n/a (10.1177/0038038512455735)

2012

Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2012. Sport-decision aids and the 'CSI-effect': why cricket uses Hawk-Eye well and tennis uses it badly. Public Understanding of Science 21(8), pp. 904-921. (10.1177/0963662511407991)
Elwyn, G.et al. 2012. Detecting deterioration in patients with chronic disease using telemonitoring: navigating the 'trough of disillusionment'. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice 18(4), pp. 896-903. (10.1111/j.1365-2753.2011.01701.x)
Sutherland, W. J.et al. 2012. A Collaboratively-Derived Science-Policy Research Agenda. PLoS ONE 7(3), article number: e31824. (10.1371/journal.pone.0031824)

2011

Evans, R. J. 2011. Collective epistemology: the intersection of group membership and expertise. In: Schmid, H. B., Sirtes, D. and Weber, M. eds. Collective Epistemology. Epistemische Studien : Schriften zur Erkenntnis- und Wissenschaftstheorie Vol. 20. Frankfurt: Ontos Verlag, pp. 177-202.
Collins, H. M., Weinel, M. and Evans, R. J. 2011. Object and shadow: responses to the CPS critiques of Collins, Weinel and Evans', "Politics and policy of the Third Wave". Critical Policy Studies 5(3), pp. 340-348. (10.1080/19460171.2011.606309)

2010

Collins, H. M., Weinel, M. and Evans, R. J. 2010. The politics and policy of the Third Wave: new technologies and society. Critical Policy Studies 4(2), pp. 185-201. (10.1080/19460171.2010.490642)
Collins, H., Evans, R. and Gorman, M. E. 2010. Trading Zones and Interactional Expertise. In: Gorman, M. E. ed. Trading Zones and Interactional Expertise: Creating New Kinds of Collaboration. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, pp. 7-24.
Evans, R. J. and Collins, H. M. 2010. Interactional expertise and the imitation game. In: Gorman, M. E. ed. Trading Zones and Interactional Expertise: Creating New Kinds of Collaboration. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, pp. 53-70.
Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2010. The third wave of science studies: studies of expertise and experience. In: Sergio, D. and Juhno, P. eds. Themes in Transdisciplinary Research. IEAT, pp. 299-363.

2009

Evans, R. J. and Kotchetkova, I. 2009. Qualitative research and deliberative methods: promise or peril?. Qualitative Research 9(5), pp. 625-643. (10.1177/1468794109343630)
Evans, R. J.et al. 2009. Qualitative research, deliberative inquiry and policy making. Qualitative Researcher(10), pp. 10-11.
Evans, R. J., Kotchetkova, I. and Langer, S. 2009. Just around the corner: rhetorics of progress and promise in genetic research. Public Understanding of Science 18(1), pp. 43-59. (10.1177/0963662507078016)

2008

Kotchetkova, I. and Evans, R. J. 2008. Promoting deliberation through research: qualitative methods and public engagement with science and technology. Working paper. Cardiff: Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University. Available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/qualiti/WorkingPapers/Qualiti_WPS_007.pdf
Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2008. You cannot be serious! Public understanding of technology with special reference to 'Hawk-Eye'. Public Understanding of Science 17(3), pp. 283-308. (10.1177/0963662508093370)
Evans, R. J. and Kotchetkova, I. 2008. Qualiti methods briefing number 2 - Facilitation or interpretation?: Qualitative research and deliberative methods. Cardiff: Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University. Available at: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi/qualiti/MethodsBriefResearchFind/MethodsBriefing02.pdf
Evans, R. J. 2008. The sociology of expertise: the distribution of social fluency. Sociology Compass 2(1), pp. 281-298. (10.1111/j.1751-9020.2007.00062.x)
Kotchetkova, I., Evans, R. J. and Langer, S. 2008. Articulating contextualized knowledge: focus groups and/as public participation?. Science as Culture 17(1), pp. 71-84. (10.1080/09505430701872897)

2007

Evans, R. J. and Plows, A. J. 2007. Listening Without Prejudice? Re-Discovering the Value of the Disinterested Citizen. Social Studies of Science 37(6), pp. 827-854. (10.1177/0306312707076602)
Collins, H. M., Evans, R. J. and Gorman, M. 2007. Trading zones and interactional expertise. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 38(4), pp. 657-666. (10.1016/j.shpsa.2007.09.003)
Evans, R. J. 2007. Social networks and private spaces in economic forecasting. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 38(4), pp. 686-697. (10.1016/j.shpsa.2007.09.011)
Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2007. Rethinking Expertise. Chicago: The Univesity of Chicago Press.
Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2007. Expertise: from attribute to attribution and back again?. In: Hackett, E. et al. eds. The Handbook of Science and Technology Studies. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, pp. 609-630.
Welsh, I., Plows, A. and Evans, R. J. 2007. Human rights and genomics: science, genomics and social movements at the 2004 London Social Forum. New Genetics and Society 26(2), pp. 123-135. (10.1080/14636770701466816)
Evans, R. J., Plows, A. and Welsh, I. 2007. Towards an anatomy of public engagement with medical genetics. In: Atkinson, P., Glasner, P. and Greenslade, H. eds. New Genetics, New Identities. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 139-156.

2006

Collins, H. M.et al. 2006. Experiments with interactional expertise. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 37(4), pp. 656-674. (10.1016/j.shpsa.2006.09.005)
Evans, R. J. and Marvin, S. 2006. Researching the sustainable city: three modes of interdisciplinarity. Environment and Planning A 38(6), pp. 1009-1028. (10.1068/a37317)
Evans, R. J. 2006. Evaluating an electronic plagiarism detection service: The importance of trust and the difficulty of proving students don't cheat. Active Learning in Higher Education 7(1), pp. 87-99. (10.1177/1469787406061150)
Collins, H. and Evans, R. 2006. The third wave of science studies: studies of expertise and experience. In: Selinger, E. and Crease, R. eds. The Philosophy of Expertise. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, pp. 39-110.

2005

Evans, R. J. 2005. Introduction: Demarcation socialized: constructing boundaries and recognizing difference. Science, Technology & Human Values 30(1), pp. 3-16. (10.1177/0162243904270713)

2004

Evans, R. J. 2004. Talking About Money: Public Participation and Expert Knowledge in the Euro Referendum. The British Journal of Sociology 55(1), pp. 35-53. (10.1111/j.1468-4446.2004.00005.x)

2003

Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2003. King Canute meets the Beach Boys: responses to the Third Wave. Social Studies of Science 33(3), pp. 435-452. (10.1177/03063127030333007)

2002

Collins, H. M. and Evans, R. J. 2002. The Third Wave of Science Studies: Studies of Expertise and Experience. Social Studies of Science 32(2), pp. 235-296. (10.1177/0306312702032002003)
Welsh, I. and Evans, R. 2002. Xenotransplantation, risk, regulation and surveillance: social and technological dimensions of change. In: Chadwick, R. and Schroeder, D. eds. Applied Ethics: Critical Concepts in Philosophy., Vol. 3. Ethical Issues in Medicine, Technology and the Life Sciences London: Routledge, pp. 146-168.

2001

Evans, R. J., Guy, S. and Marvin, S. 2001. Views of the city: multiple pathways to sustainable transport futures. Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability 6(2), pp. 121-133. (10.1080/13549830120052773)

1999

Evans, R. J. 1999. Macroeconomic forecasting: a sociological appraisal. Routledge Studies in the Modern World Economy. Abingdon: Routledge.
Evans, R. J. 1999. Economic models and policy advice: theory choice or moral choice?. Science in Context 12(2), pp. 351-376. (10.1017/S026988970000346X)
Evans, R. J., Guy, S. and Marvin, S. 1999. Making a difference: sociology of scientific knowledge and urban energy policies. Science, Technology & Human Values 24(1), pp. 105-131. (10.1177/016224399902400106)
Welsh, I. and Evans, R. J. 1999. Xenotransplantation, risk, regulation and surveillance: social and technological dimensions of change. New Genetics and Society 18(2-3), pp. 197-217. (10.1080/14636779908656899)

1998

Evans, R. J. 1998. Economic models: the past, present and future?. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 16(2), pp. 115-122. (10.1080/14615517.1998.10590196)

1997

Evans, R. J. 1997. Soothsaying or science?: Falsification, uncertainty and social change in macroeconomic modelling. Social Studies of Science 27(3), pp. 395-438. (10.1177/030631297027003002)

1996

Kirchler, E., Fehr, E. and Evans, R. J. 1996. Social exchange in the labor market: reciprocity and trust versus egoistic money maximization. Journal of Economic Psychology 17(3), pp. 313-341. (10.1016/0167-4870(96)00013-X)

My current research is focussed around two main themes:

Studies of Expertise and Experience (SEE). The basis of this work is the ‘Third Wave of Science Studies’ paper, co-authored with Professor Harry Collins and published in 2002. This has led to the typology of expertise set out in Rethinking Expertise (2007), an exploration of Why Democracies Need Science (2017) and, most recently, a critique of populist politics published as Experts and the Will of the People (2020). Current projects include the provision of scientific advice to the UK government during the early stages of the covid-19 pandemic and a citizen science project based in the WISERD Centre for Civil Society.
Interactional Expertise and the Imitation Game. One of the most productive spin-offs of the work on expertise has been the idea of interactional expertise and development of the Imitation Game. Originally conceived as a proof-of-concept test for the idea of interactional expertise, the Imitation Game led to a €2.26M Advanced Research grant from the ERC’. Early results from this work are available as journal articles, with the project as a whole being now being written up as a ‘Handbook of Imitation Game’ research.

science and technology studies
public engagement with science and technology
expertise and decision-making