Storylistening’s role in policy advice | Science

In their Policy Forum, “‘Storylistening’ in the science policy ecosystem” (13 January, p. 134), C. Craig and S. Dillon explain how the expert evaluation of narratives can facilitate the delivery of humanistic and social science advice for public policy on a range of issues, including those to which scientific advice is also pertinent. Choices about which problems scientists prioritize and which solutions policymakers select are infused with public values (1). Capturing these values can be as challenging as doing the science itself, so any process that makes decision-making more systematic and transparent, as storylistening is supposed to do, is welcome. However, as Craig and Dillon acknowledge, stories often do not tell the truth. In addition, stories do not always reflect universal values. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using the storylistening approach in policy advisory systems.