Integrated Assessment (Environmental & Earth Science)
Integrated Assessment
Methodology & Resources
| This article is written at a definitional level only. Authors wishing to expand this entry are inivited to expand the present treatment, which additions will be peer reviewed prior to publication of any expansion. |
Integrated Assessment begins with a structured dialog among scientists and policy makers to establish a key policy question around which the assessment is to be developed. Researchers applying this methodology then gather and assess both natural and social science information to help policy makers answer that question.
While Integrated Assessment can take many forms and include a range of processes and approaches, the fundamental outcome is an analysis of the likely environmental, social, and economic futures under a range of policy options. There are many ways to get there, but here are eight useful steps: 
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- Define the policy-relevant question
- Document the status and trends
- Describe the causes and consequences
- Identify desired outcomes and policy options
- Evaluate various policy options
- Provide technical guidance for implementation
- Assess uncertainty
- Submit findings for peer review and public comment.
The schematic to the right illustrates possible components of our collaborative Integrated Assessment approach, which involves key participants and stakeholders throughout all stages of the process.
To learn more about this methodology and how it works, please click on the links below:
- Integrated Assessment Research Framework (1 page document)
- Integrated Assessment Guide (23 pages document)
- Integrated Assessment Benefits(website)
- Integrated Assessment Society(website)
