Wicked tendencies in policy problems: rethinking the distinction between social and technical problems
Open accessAbstract
Complex or intractable policy problems, often called ‘wicked’ problems, have been a feature of public policy research since the early 1970s. Observers have generally assumed that these wicked problems constitute a distinct category of policy problems, based on the notion that some problems – those characterised as substantially technical or scientific in nature – lend themselves to traditional linear problem-solving methods, whereas other problems that are social in nature tend to be wicked. By examining three cases where scientific knowledge is central to the debate – climate change, genetically modified foods and hydraulic fracturing – we argue that all policy problems can exhibit wicked tendencies, regardless of the amount of scientific information available to decision-makers. Therefore, the reliance on increased information in resolving wicked problems is unlikely to be sufficient or effective.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
'Wickedness' is reconsidered as but one label among others for a large degree of problematicity along a sliding scale from low to high.
“'Wickedness' is reconsidered as but one label among others for a large degree of problematicity along a sliding scale from low to high (cf.Conklin, 2005;Newman & Head, 2017).”
From Problematizing ‘wickedness’: a critique of the wicked problems concept, from philosophy to practice (2019) · cites this paper as Newman & Head, 2017
The idea that problems are either wicked or tame rules out 'degrees' of wickedness, or even 'tendencies' toward wickedness.
“Importantly, the idea that problems are either wicked or tame rules out 'degrees' of wickedness, or even 'tendencies' toward wickedness, which might be more helpful (Alford & Head, 2017;Daviter, 2017;Farrell & Hooker, 2013;Newman & Head, 2017).”
From Problematizing ‘wickedness’: a critique of the wicked problems concept, from philosophy to practice (2019) · cites this paper as Newman & Head, 2017
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Dilemmas in a general theory of planning
Rittel, H. W. J., & Webber, M. M. (1973) · Policy Sciences · doi:10.1007/bf01405730 · Cited by 16,338 · cited 2× · see citing works
“…true/false selection, and optimal choices can be made after obtaining the requisite information, whereas wicked (i.e. social) problems depend on good decision-making processes (Rittel & Webber, 1973, pp. 162–163), in which an understanding of competing values is more important than information.”
BackgroundThe Science of “Muddling Through”
Lindblom, C. E. (1959) · Public Administration Review · doi:10.2307/973677 · Cited by 8,513 · see citing works
A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice
Cohen, M. D., March, J. G., & Olsen, J. P. (1972) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2392088 · Cited by 7,978 · see citing works
When Effect Becomes Cause: Policy Feedback and Political Change
Pierson, P. (1993) · World Politics · doi:10.2307/2950710 · Cited by 2,600 · see citing works
The Many Meanings of Research Utilization
Weiss, C. H. (1979) · Public Administration Review · doi:10.2307/3109916 · Cited by 2,241 · see citing works
Four Systems of Policy, Politics, and Choice
Lowi, T. J. (1972) · Public Administration Review · doi:10.2307/974990 · Cited by 1,995 · see citing works
Levin, K., Cashore, B. W., Bernstein, S., & Auld, G. A. (2012) · Policy Sciences · doi:10.1007/s11077-012-9151-0 · Cited by 1,844 · see citing works
The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change
Oreskes, N. (2004) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1103618 · Cited by 1,814 · see citing works
Biesta, G. (2007) · Educational Theory · doi:10.1111/j.1741-5446.2006.00241.x · Cited by 1,655 · see citing works
Wicked Problems: Implications for Public Policy and Management
Head, B. W., & Alford, J. (2015) · Administration & Society · doi:10.1177/0095399713481601 · Cited by 1,514 · see citing works
Self-citationQuantifying the consensus on anthropogenic global warming in the scientific literature
Cook, J., Nuccitelli, D. A., Green, S., Richardson, M., Winkler, B., Painting, R., Way, R. G., Jacobs, P., & Skuce, A. G. (2013) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/024024 · Cited by 1,366 · see citing works
The Competent Boundary Spanner
Williams, P. (2002) · Public Administration · doi:10.1111/1467-9299.00296 · Cited by 1,311 · see citing works
Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing
Osborn, S. G., Vengosh, A., Warner, N. R., & Jackson, R. B. (2011) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1100682108 · Cited by 1,287 · see citing works
Wicked Problems, Knowledge Challenges, and Collaborative Capacity Builders in Network Settings
Weber, E. P., & Khademian, A. M. (2008) · Public Administration Review · doi:10.1111/j.1540-6210.2007.00866.x · Cited by 1,186 · see citing works
Agenda Dynamics and Policy Subsystems
Baumgartner, F. R., & Jones, B. D. (1991) · The Journal of Politics · doi:10.2307/2131866 · Cited by 1,142 · see citing works
Evidence-Based Education Policies: Transforming Educational Practice and Research
Slavin, R. E. (2002) · Educational Researcher · doi:10.3102/0013189x031007015 · Cited by 1,107 · see citing works
Evaluation, Policy Learning and Evidence‐Based Policy Making
Sanderson, I. (2002) · Public Administration · doi:10.1111/1467-9299.00292 · Cited by 1,068 · see citing works
(2005) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 972 · see citing works
Defeating Kyoto: The Conservative Movement's Impact on U.S. Climate Change Policy
McCright, A. M., & Dunlap, R. E. (2003) · Social Problems · doi:10.1525/sp.2003.50.3.348 · Cited by 904 · see citing works
Water Management Challenges Associated with the Production of Shale Gas by Hydraulic Fracturing
Gregory, K. B., Vidić, R. D., & Dzombak, D. A. (2011) · Elements · doi:10.2113/gselements.7.3.181 · Cited by 896 · see citing works
Climate change : Impact on agriculture and costs of adaptation
Nelson, G. C., Rosegrant, M., Koo, J., Robertson, R., Sulser, T., Zhu, T., Ringler, C., Msangi, S., Palazzo, A., Batka, M., et al. (2009) · International Food Policy Research Institute eBooks · doi:10.2499/089629535 · Cited by 855 · see citing works
Expert credibility in climate change
Anderegg, W. R. L., Prall, J. W., Harold, J., & Schneider, S. H. (2010) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1003187107 · Cited by 807 · see citing works
Wicked Problems in Public Policy
Head, B. W. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-90434-0_43-1 · Cited by 731 · see citing works
Self-citationEvidence-based policy: the promise of ‘realist synthesis’
Pawson, R. (2002) · Evaluation · doi:10.1177/135638902401462448 · Cited by 729 · see citing works
Understanding Evidence-Based Public Health Policy
Brownson, R. C., Chriqui, J. F., & Stamatakis, K. A. (2009) · American Journal of Public Health · doi:10.2105/ajph.2008.156224 · Cited by 727 · see citing works
Adams, V. M., & Setterfield, S. A. (2013) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/8/2/025018 · Cited by 687 · see citing works
Janssen, M. A., Schoon, M., Ke, W., & Börner, K. (2006) · Global Environmental Change · doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.04.001 · Cited by 574 · see citing works
(2000) · International public management review · Cited by 573 · see citing works
Reconsidering evidence-based policy: Key issues and challenges
Head, B. W. (2010) · Policy and Society · doi:10.1016/j.polsoc.2010.03.001 · Cited by 541 · see citing works
Self-citationPolicy analytical capacity and evidence‐based policy‐making: Lessons from Canada
Howlett, M. P. (2009) · Canadian Public Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1754-7121.2009.00070_1.x · Cited by 533 · see citing works
Examining the Scientific Consensus on Climate Change
Doran, P. T., & Zimmerman, M. K. (2009) · Eos · doi:10.1029/2009eo030002 · Cited by 532 · see citing works
The Politics of Evidence-Based Policy Making
Cairney, P. (2016) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/978-1-137-51781-4 · Cited by 529 · see citing works
Toward More “Evidence‐Informed” Policy Making?
Head, B. W. (2015) · Public Administration Review · doi:10.1111/puar.12475 · Cited by 508 · see citing works
Self-citationBoudet, H. S., Clarke, C. E., Bugden, D., Maibach, E. W., Roser‐Renouf, C., & Leiserowitz, A. (2013) · Energy Policy · doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2013.10.017 · Cited by 499 · see citing works
A review of climate change, mitigation and adaptation
Vijayavenkataraman, S., Iniyan, S., & Goić, R. (2011) · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.rser.2011.09.009 · Cited by 466 · see citing works
Climate Change and Small Island States: Power, Knowledge and the South Pacific
Barnett, J. R., & Campbell, J. (2010) · Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal · doi:10.1108/meq.2010.08321eae.004 · Cited by 428 · see citing works
Wicked Problems and Applied Economics
Batie, S. S. (2008) · American Journal of Agricultural Economics · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8276.2008.01202.x · Cited by 405 · see citing works
Coyne, R. (2004) · Design Studies · doi:10.1016/j.destud.2004.06.005 · Cited by 400 · see citing works
Australian Journal of Public Administration
(2010) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/(issn)1467-8500 · Cited by 386 · see citing works
Evidence-based policy: a realist perspective
(2005) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203624289-9 · Cited by 384 · see citing works
Parsons, W. (2002) · Public Policy and Administration · doi:10.1177/095207670201700304 · Cited by 383 · see citing works
van Bueren, E. (2003) · Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory · doi:10.1093/jpart/mug017 · Cited by 383 · see citing works
van Bueren, E. (2003) · Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory · doi:10.1093/jopart/mug017 · Cited by 329 · see citing works
The Impact of Climate Change on the United States Economy
(1999) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511573149 · Cited by 314 · see citing works
Wang, B., Pan, S.-Y., Ke, R.-Y., Wang, K., & Wei, Y. (2014) · Natural Hazards · doi:10.1007/s11069-014-1260-y · Cited by 306 · see citing works
Boykoff, M. (2007) · Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers · doi:10.1111/j.1475-5661.2007.00270.x · Cited by 291 · see citing works
Understanding Wicked Problems: A Key to Advancing Environmental Health Promotion
Kreuter, M. W., Rosa, C. T. D., Howze, E. H., & Baldwin, G. T. (2004) · Health Education & Behavior · doi:10.1177/1090198104265597 · Cited by 284 · see citing works
Tampering with the evidence: a critical appraisal of evidence-based policy-making
Marston, G., & Watts, R. (2003) · RMIT Research Repository (RMIT University Library) · Cited by 258 · see citing works
Self-help organizations for alcohol and drug problems: Toward evidence-based practice and policy
Humphreys, K. N., Wing, S., McCarty, D. W., Chappel, J. N., Gallant, L., Haberle, B. J., Horvath, A. T., Kaskutas, L. A., Kirk, T., Kivlahan, D. R., et al. (2004) · Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment · doi:10.1016/s0740-5472(03)00212-5 · Cited by 248 · see citing works
The Wrong Solution at the Right Time: The Failure of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change
Rosen, A. M. (2015) · Politics & Policy · doi:10.1111/polp.12105 · Cited by 230 · see citing works
Noisy and definitely not normal: responding to wicked issues in the environment, energy and health
Turnpenny, J. R., Lorenzoni, I., & Jones, M. (2009) · Environmental Science & Policy · doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2009.01.004 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
Feeding the world: genetically modified crops versus agricultural biodiversity
Jacobsen, S., Sørensen, M., Pedersen, S. M., & Weiner, J. (2013) · Agronomy for Sustainable Development · doi:10.1007/s13593-013-0138-9 · Cited by 224 · see citing works
Parkhurst, J. (2016) · London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science) · doi:10.4324/9781315675008 · Cited by 214 · see citing works
Hertin, J., Turnpenny, J. R., Jordan, A., Nilsson, M., Russel, D., & Nykvist, B. (2009) · Environment and Planning A Economy and Space · doi:10.1068/a40266 · Cited by 207 · see citing works
Complexity, 'practical rationality' and evidence-based policy making
Sanderson, I. R. (2005) · Policy & Politics · doi:10.1332/030557306775212188 · Cited by 201 · see citing works
The Politics of “Fracking”: Regulating Natural Gas Drilling Practices in Colorado and Texas
Davis, C. (2012) · Review of Policy Research · doi:10.1111/j.1541-1338.2011.00547.x · Cited by 201 · see citing works
Hammersley, M. (2005) · Evidence & Policy · doi:10.1332/1744264052703203 · Cited by 199 · see citing works
Prins, G., & Rayner, S. (2007) · Nature · doi:10.1038/449973a · Cited by 199 · see citing works
The governance of adaptation: choices, reasons, and effects. Introduction to the Special Feature
Huitema, D., Adger, W. N., Berkhout, F., Massey, E. E., Mazmanian, D. A., Munaretto, S., Plummer, R., & Termeer, C. (2016) · Ecology and Society · doi:10.5751/es-08797-210337 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Design, science and wicked problems
Farrell, R., & Hooker, C. A. (2013) · Design Studies · doi:10.1016/j.destud.2013.05.001 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Is it ‘what works’ that matters? Evaluation and evidence‐based policy‐making
Sanderson, I. (2003) · Research Papers in Education · doi:10.1080/0267152032000176846 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Devaney, J., & Spratt, T. (2008) · Children and Youth Services Review · doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2008.12.003 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Evidence‐Based Policymaking – Speaking Truth to Power?
Head, B. W. (2013) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/1467-8500.12037 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Self-citationPerformance Assessment and Wicked Problems: The Case of Health Inequalities
Blackman, T., Greene, A. C., Hunter, D. J., McKee, L., Elliott, E., Harrington, B., Marks, L., & Williams, G. H. (2006) · Public Policy and Administration · doi:10.1177/095207670602100206 · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Usable Knowledge in Public Policy
Adams, D. (2004) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8500.2004.00357.x · Cited by 132 · see citing works
The Public Management of Sport
Sam, M. P. (2009) · Public Management Review · doi:10.1080/14719030902989565 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Prati, G., Pietrantoni, L., & Zani, B. (2012) · Food Quality and Preference · doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2012.02.011 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
McHughen, A., & Smyth, S. J. (2007) · Plant Biotechnology Journal · doi:10.1111/j.1467-7652.2007.00300.x · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Fractured, Fragmented Federalism: A Study in Fracking Regulatory Policy
Warner, B., & Shapiro, J. (2013) · Publius The Journal of Federalism · doi:10.1093/publius/pjt014 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Exploring the moral dimension of wicked problems*
Wexler, M. N. (2009) · International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy · doi:10.1108/01443330910986306 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Evidence and the policy process
Nutley, S., & Webb, J. (2000) · Policy Press eBooks · doi:10.1332/policypress/9781861341914.003.0002 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
A Climate for Change? Critical Reflections on the Durban United Nations Climate Change Conference
Banerjee, S. B. (2012) · Organization Studies · doi:10.1177/0170840612464609 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
“Wicked Problems,” Public Policy, and Administrative Theory
Durant, R. F., & Legge, J. S. (2006) · Administration & Society · doi:10.1177/0095399706289713 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Evidence-based policy: what’s to be done about relevance?
Cartwright, N. D. (2008) · Philosophical Studies · doi:10.1007/s11098-008-9311-4 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Knispel, A. L., & McLachlan, S. M. (2009) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-009-0219-0 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
The Limits to Evidence‐Based Policy: Evidence, Emotion and Criminal Justice1
Freiberg, A., & Carson, W. G. (2010) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8500.2010.00674.x · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Evidence-Based Policy Making: What Is It? How Do We Get It?
Banks, G. (2020) · WORLD SCIENTIFIC eBooks · doi:10.1142/9789813274754_0025 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Overseas and over here: policy transfer and evidence-based policy-making
Legrand, T. (2012) · Policy Studies · doi:10.1080/01442872.2012.695945 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Nelson, R. R. (1974) · Policy Sciences · doi:10.1007/bf00147227 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Failure and opportunity: environmental groups in US climate change policy
Bryner, G. (2008) · Environmental Politics · doi:10.1080/09644010801936255 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Evidence-based Policy: Rhetoric and Reality
Packwood, A. (2002) · Social Policy and Society · doi:10.1017/s1474746402003111 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Parkhurst, J. O. (2016) · Policy Sciences · doi:10.1007/s11077-016-9263-z · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Fracking, the Environment, and Health
McDermott‐Levy, R., Kaktins, N. M., & Sattler, B. (2013) · AJN American Journal of Nursing · doi:10.1097/01.naj.0000431272.83277.f4 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Social Policy and the Authority of Evidence
Neylan, J. (2008) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8500.2007.00565.x · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Evidence and the policy process
Nutley, S., & Webb, J. (2017) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctt1t892t3.8 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
The Complexity of Evidence: Reflections on Research Utilisation in a Heavily Politicised Policy Area
Monaghan, M. (2009) · Social Policy and Society · doi:10.1017/s1474746409990157 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
What Does the History of Technology Regulation Teach Us about Nano Oversight?
Marchant, G. E., Sylvester, D. J., & Abbott, K. W. (2009) · The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics · doi:10.1111/j.1748-720x.2009.00443.x · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Maddison, S. (2012) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8500.2012.00775.x · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Kuzma, J., Najmaie, P., & Larson, J. S. (2009) · The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics · doi:10.1111/j.1748-720x.2009.00431.x · Cited by 43 · see citing works
Hunter, B. H. (2007) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Carbon Politics and the Failure of the Kyoto Protocol
Kutney, G. W. (2014) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315851099 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Viju‐Miljusevic, C., & Yeung, M. T. (2012) · Journal of World Trade · doi:10.54648/trad2012037 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Viju, C., Yeung, M. T., & Kerr, W. A. (2012) · Journal of World Trade · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Cultures of public policy problems
Hoppe, R. (2002) · Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis Research and Practice · doi:10.1080/13876980208412685 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Cumulative risk management, coal seam gas, sustainable water, and agriculture in Australia
Tan, P., George, D., & Comino, M. (2015) · International Journal of Water Resources Development · doi:10.1080/07900627.2014.994593 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Doing What Works: Governing in the Age of Big Data
O'Malley, M. (2014) · Public Administration Review · doi:10.1111/puar.12260 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Dannenberg, A., Scatasta, S., & Sturm, B. (2010) · Agricultural Economics · doi:10.1111/j.1574-0862.2010.00520.x · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Bottom-up policy lessons emerging from the Western Climate Initiative's development challenges
Klinsky, S. (2012) · Climate Policy · doi:10.1080/14693062.2012.712457 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Washington State Institute for Public Policy (2007) · Federal Sentencing Reporter · doi:10.1525/fsr.2007.19.4.275 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
The great global warming blunder: how mother nature fooled the world's top climate scientists
(2010) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.48-1489 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Evidence–based Analysis and the Work of Policy Shops
Bhatta, G. (2002) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/1467-8500.00288 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
The Illusion of Care: Regulation, Uncertainty, and Genetically Modified Food CropsPreprint
Bratspies, R. M. (2003) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.353320 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Stakeholder Governance as a Response to Wicked Issues
Sachs, S. R., Rühli, E., & Meier, C. (2010) · Journal of Business Ethics · doi:10.1007/s10551-011-0944-4 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Evidence-Based Practices and State Sentencing Policy: Ten Policy Initiatives to Reduce Recidivism
Warren, R. K. (2007) · Indiana Magazine of History (Indiana University) · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Tangney, P. (2016) · Science and Public Policy · doi:10.1093/scipol/scw055 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Learning from the past, prospects for the future
Davies, H., Nutley, S., & Smith, P. (2000) · Policy Press eBooks · doi:10.1332/policypress/9781861341914.003.0016 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Learning from the past, prospects for the future
Davies, H., Nutley, S., & Smith, P. (2017) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctt1t892t3.22 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Zhuang, Y., & Yu, W. (2013) · Vermont Journal of Environmental Law · doi:10.2307/vermjenvilaw.14.3.465 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Climate Policy Failure: Was Australia's CPRS more politics than policy?
Crowley, K. (2012) · UTAS Research Repository · doi:10.13140/2.1.5031.3609 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Conclusion: Connecting social science and policy
Stoker, G., & Evans, M. (2016) · Policy Press eBooks · doi:10.1332/policypress/9781447329367.003.0015 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Stoker, G., & Evans, M. I. (2017) · Bristol University Press eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctt1t89d4k.21 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
14 of the 125 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Forty years of wicked problems literature: forging closer links to policy studies
Head, B. W. (2018) · Policy and Society · doi:10.1080/14494035.2018.1488797 · Cited by 492 · see citing works
Self-citationWicked Problems in Public Policy
Head, B. W. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-94580-0 · Cited by 360 · see citing works
Self-citationWanzenböck, I., Wesseling, J. H., Frenken, K., Hekkert, M. P., & Weber, M. (2020) · Science and Public Policy · doi:10.1093/scipol/scaa027 · Cited by 333 · see citing works
Evidence-based policymaking and the wicked problem of SDG 5 Gender Equality
Eden, L., & Wagstaff, M. F. (2020) · Journal of International Business Policy · doi:10.1057/s42214-020-00054-w · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Problematizing ‘wickedness’: a critique of the wicked problems concept, from philosophy to practice
Turnbull, N., & Hoppe, R. (2019) · Policy and Society · doi:10.1080/14494035.2018.1488796 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
“Importantly, the idea that problems are either wicked or tame rules out ‘degrees’ of wickedness, or even ‘tendencies’ toward wickedness, which might be more helpful (Alford & Head, 2017; Daviter, 2017; Farrell & Hooker, 2013; Newman & Head, 2017).”
BackgroundThe Crisisification of Policy‐making in the European Union
Rhinard, M. (2019) · JCMS Journal of Common Market Studies · doi:10.1111/jcms.12838 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Designing for Policy Effectiveness
Peters, B. G., Capano, G., Howlett, M. P., Mukherjee, I., Chou, M., & Ravinet, P. (2018) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108555081 · Cited by 172 · see citing works
Are wicked problems really so wicked? Perceptions of policy problems
Peters, B. G., & Tarpey, M. (2019) · Policy and Society · doi:10.1080/14494035.2019.1626595 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Why Isn't Government Policy More Preventive?
Cairney, P., & Denny, E. S. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793298.001.0001 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Masking Attendance: How Education Policy Distracts from the Wicked Problem(s) of Chronic Absenteeism
Childs, J., & Lofton, R. (2021) · Educational Policy · doi:10.1177/0895904820986771 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Knowledge management for policy impact: the case of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre
Topp, L., Mair, D., Smillie, L., & Cairney, P. (2018) · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · doi:10.1057/s41599-018-0143-3 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Designing for adaptation: Static and dynamic robustness in policy‐making
Howlett, M. P., & Ramesh, M. (2022) · Public Administration · doi:10.1111/padm.12849 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
What's the Problem? Multilevel Governance and Problem‐Solving
Thomann, E., Trein, P., & Maggetti, M. (2019) · European Policy Analysis · doi:10.1002/epa2.1062 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Sociological Perspectives on Earth System Modeling
Grundmann, R., & Rödder, S. (2019) · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems · doi:10.1029/2019ms001687 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
The Multilevel Regulation of Complex Policy Problems: Uncertainty and the Swine Flu Pandemic
Versluis, E., van Asselt, M. B. A., & Kim, J. (2019) · European Policy Analysis · doi:10.1002/epa2.1064 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Designing for policy effectiveness : defining and understanding a concept
Peters, B. G., Capano, G., Howlett, M. P., Mukherjee, I., Chou, M., & Ravinet, P. (2018) · DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Veltman, M. E., van Keulen, H., & Voogt, J. M. (2019) · Journal of Education and Work · doi:10.1080/13639080.2019.1610165 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Lee, J., Kim, B. J., Park, S., Park, S., & Oh, K. (2018) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su10093078 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Clusters of water governance problems and their effects on policy delivery
Kirschke, S., Franke, C., Newig, J., & Borchardt, D. (2019) · Policy and Society · doi:10.1080/14494035.2019.1586081 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Public Policy to Reduce Inequalities across Europe
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.001.0001 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Healy, A., Upton, K. A., Capstick, S., Bristow, G., Tijani, M. N., MacDonald, A., Goni, I. B., Bukar, Y., Whitmarsh, L. E., Theis, S., et al. (2020) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab7463 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Grundmann, R. (2021) · Journal of Risk Research · doi:10.1080/13669877.2021.1894471 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Aligning the crowdsourcing type with the problem attributes to improve solution search efficacy
Gurca, A., Bagherzadeh, M., & Velayati, R. (2022) · Technovation · doi:10.1016/j.technovation.2022.102613 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Veltman, M. E., van Keulen, H., & Voogt, J. M. (2021) · The Curriculum Journal · doi:10.1002/curj.100 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
A Bibliometric Analysis of Wicked Problems: From Single Discipline to Transdisciplinarity
Hou, X., Li, R., & Song, Z. (2022) · Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences · doi:10.1007/s40647-022-00346-w · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Lessons from the evidence on evidence‐based policy
French, R. D. (2018) · Canadian Public Administration · doi:10.1111/capa.12295 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Meta-governance as partial organization
Österberg, E. E., & Qvist, M. (2022) · Administrative Theory & Praxis · doi:10.1080/10841806.2022.2025737 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Kashwan, P., & Lee, H. (2024) · Energy Research & Social Science · doi:10.1016/j.erss.2024.103692 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Queenan, K., Cuevas, S., Mabhaudhi, T., Chimonyo, M., Shankar, B., Slotow, R., & Häsler, B. (2022) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0270756 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Kötü Huylu Problemlerle Mücadele Stratejileri: Problem Odaklı ve Durumsalcı Bir Perspektif
Uzun, A. (2020) · Erciyes Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Dergisi · doi:10.18070/erciyesiibd.748552 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Towards a mechanism for expert policy advice in education
Skerritt, C. (2023) · British Educational Research Journal · doi:10.1002/berj.3867 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
How to decide upon circular cities: The role of evidence in local tender procedures
Chartier, A., & Pot, W. D. (2024) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143449 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Adamson, E., Smith, J. A., Clifford, S., & Wallace, T. (2021) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/1467-8500.12471 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Crowdsourcing routines: the behavioral and motivational underpinnings of expert participation
Bagherzadeh, M., Gurca, A., & Velayati, R. (2023) · Industrial and Corporate Change · doi:10.1093/icc/dtad056 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Biehl, J., Missbach, L., Riedel, F., Stemmle, R., Jüchter, J., Weber, J., Kucknat, J., Odenweller, A., Nauck, C., Lukassen, L. J., et al. (2023) · International Journal of Sustainable Energy · doi:10.1080/14786451.2023.2244602 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Foundations of a learning system for food system transformation under uncertainty
Mausch, K., Hall, A., Hambloch, C., Conti, C., Hauser, M., Abraham, S., Hammond, P., & Moallemi, E. A. (2025) · Food Security · doi:10.1007/s12571-025-01565-1 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Uzun, A. (2020) · Journal of Turkish Studies · doi:10.7827/turkishstudies.44362 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Problems in applying Soft OR methods to climate actions: lessons from two cases of governmental use
Leong, C., Soon, D. W. X., Ong, C., & Howlett, M. P. (2023) · npj Climate Action · doi:10.1038/s44168-023-00037-6 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Defining wicked problems for public policy: The case of Mexico’s disappearances
Naime, M. (2020) · Gestión y Análisis de Políticas Públicas · doi:10.24965/gapp.i23.10648 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Mission-Oriented Public Policy and the New Evaluation Culture
Lähteenmäki-Smith, K., & Virtanen, P. J. (2020) · Translational systems sciences · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-0069-5_4 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Kang, S., Altmann, J., & Park, G. (2023) · Journal of the Knowledge Economy · doi:10.1007/s13132-023-01562-9 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Navigating Complexity in Policy Implementation
Bali, A. S. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-29980-4_28 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Strategies to Reduce Inequalities in Education
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.003.0007 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Schito, M. (2023) · Policy Studies Journal · doi:10.1111/psj.12500 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Balla, E., Madureira, A. M., & Zevenbergen, J. A. (2025) · Land · doi:10.3390/land14020282 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Public policy considerations of quantum computing
Moloney, K., & Al-Kuwari, S. M. (2025) · Science and Public Policy · doi:10.1093/scipol/scaf065 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Marchetti, L., Kauark-Fontes, B., Guerrero, C. O., García, J. H., Wild, T., & Salbitano, F. (2025) · Urban forestry & urban greening · doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2025.129220 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Examining student profiles for dealing with wickedness
Veltman, M. E., van Keulen, H., Smits, A., & Voogt, J. M. (2024) · Journal of Vocational Education and Training · doi:10.1080/13636820.2024.2320898 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Garbolino, E., & Baudry, J. (2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-818215-4.00002-x · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Gobernanza y problemas retorcidos. Consideraciones teóricas para abordar problemas del turismo
Escobedo, S. I. O., Jiménez, G. C., & Sánchez, F. J. P. (2021) · Investigaciones Turísticas · doi:10.14198/inturi2021.22.8 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Windfeld, F. C. (2025) · Contemporary Security Policy · doi:10.1080/13523260.2025.2496045 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Policy advisory system quality under multilevel governance: the German COVID-19 experience
Hornung, J., & Trein, P. (2025) · Policy and Society · doi:10.1093/polsoc/puaf005 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Cruz, A. J. R., & Meza, O. (2020) · Gestión y Análisis de Políticas Públicas · doi:10.24965/gapp.i24.10792 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Navigating Complexity in Policy Implementation
Bali, A. S. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-03008-7_28-1 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Fay, S. (2021) · Sociological Perspectives · doi:10.1177/07311214211021127 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Raisio, H., Puustinen, A., & Vartiainen, P. (2018) · Osuva (University of Vaasa) · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.003.0001 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Disaster risk reduction in the wicked problems framework
Kasdan, D. O. (2024) · Disaster Prevention and Management An International Journal · doi:10.1108/dpm-03-2024-0062 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Nusair, L. (2026) · Compare A Journal of Comparative and International Education · doi:10.1080/03057925.2026.2657825 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Sobral, S., de Wit, F., Carrilho, R., Cabete, D., Barbosa, A., & Vala, F. (2024) · Humanities and Social Sciences Communications · doi:10.1057/s41599-024-03064-8 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Wicked Contexts Pushing for Change in Argentina: Tourism, Labour Informality and PreViaje Policy
García, C., Porto, N., & Ciaschi, M. (2024) · Advances in culture, tourism and hospitality research · doi:10.1108/s1871-31732024000017b002 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Biehl, J., Missbach, L., Riedel, F., Stemmle, R., Jüchter, J., Weber, J., Kucknat, J., Odenweller, A., Nauck, C., Lukassen, L. J., et al. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-2134870/v1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Engaging With Complexity: Making Sense of “Wicked Problems” in Rural South Africa
Burman, C. J. (2019) · Journal of higher education outreach & engagement/Journal of higher education outreach and engagement.
Prevention and Mental Health Policy
Cairney, P., & Denny, E. S. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793298.003.0008
Which Government’s Policy Style is More Conducive to Prevention?
Cairney, P., & Denny, E. S. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793298.003.0004
Prevention Policy as the Ultimate ‘Wicked’ Problem
Cairney, P., & Denny, E. S. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793298.003.0001
Early Intervention for ‘Troubled Families’
Cairney, P., & Denny, E. S. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793298.003.0009
Cairney, P., & Denny, E. S. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793298.003.0005
Governing coral reef conservation in the digital society
Carballo-Cárdenas, E. C. (2020) · doi:10.18174/516144
Inkeröinen, J. (2022) · Public Administration Research · doi:10.5539/par.v11n1p11
Strategies to Tackle with Wicked Problems: A Problem Oriented and Contingency Perspective
Uzun, A. (2020) · DergiPark (Istanbul University)
Mapping Responsibilities to Reduce Inequalities Across the EU
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.003.0003
Strategies to Reduce Health Inequalities
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.003.0006
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.003.0009
Inequalities Policies in Practice
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.003.0005
Contesting the Scale at Which Inequalities Policies Should Be Solved
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.003.0004
Strategies to Reduce Gender Inequalities
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.003.0008
Solving Inequalities via Policy Learning and Transfer
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.003.0002
Cairney, P., Keating, M. J., Kippin, S., & Denny, E. S. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898586.002.0003
Schoisswohl, U., Wunderle, U., Studený, L., van Kessenich, L. M., & Weinlinger, P. (2022) · Library of ethics and applied philosophy · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-14710-4_6
Ansell, C. (2023) · Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks · doi:10.4337/9781789909197.00015
Margolis, A., & Blomsma, F. (2024) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4766905
Cairney, P., & Denny, E. S. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793298.002.0007
Cairney, P., & Denny, E. S. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793298.002.0003
Preface: How to Analyse, Research, and Address Long-standing Policy Problems
Cairney, P., & Denny, E. S. (2020) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198793298.002.0004
Framing Child Poverty in Finland as a “Wicked Problem”
Smith, C. J., Virtanen, P. J., Hiilamo, A., & Ristikari, T. (2024) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-80455-686-320241003
A quest for a decision-making model for Indonesia’s national social security policies
Muliati, I., Putro, U. S., & Anggoro, Y. (2024) · Journal of Infrastructure Policy and Development · doi:10.24294/jipd9479
Webs of Knowledge in Behavioural Insights Practices
Einfeld, C. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-83305-2_3
Einfeld, C. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-83305-2_4
Cambio climático y políticas públicas en la literatura científica
López-Cadavid, D. A., López, J. G. V., & Restrepo-Morales, J. A. (2025) · Cuadernos Latinoamericanos de Administración · doi:10.18270/cuaderlam.4912
Milhorance, C., Bourblanc, M., & Mercandalli, S. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning · doi:10.1080/1523908x.2025.2577214
Wicked Policy ProblemsPreprint
Aspalter, C. (2025) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.5956475
A teacher’s experience in enacting the knowledge-building approach to teaching about climate change
Azmath, F., & Tee, M. Y. (2026) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2025.1694161
The Utility of the Concept of Wicked Problems in the Context of Air Pollution in Małopolska
Klinowski, M. (2026) · Law and visual jurisprudence · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-23909-9_6
- Authors
- Newman, J., & Head, B. W.
- Affiliations
- Flinders University (AU)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Newman, Joshua
- Venue
- Policy and Society
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2017-07-03
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 414-429
- ISSN
- 1449-4035 (ISSN-L)
- 1839-3373
- OpenAlex
- W2750507029
- Cited by
- 96
- References
- 125
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8
- FWCI
- 8.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Policy and Society (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Complex Systems and Decision Making
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Public Policy and Administration Research
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Public Administration and Political Analysis
- Keywords
- wicked problems, climate policy, genetically modified foods, hydraulic fracturing, information and decision-making
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
