‘What kind of socio-technical research for what sort of influence on energy policy?’

We summarise and take issue with Adam Cooper’s analysis of the relationship between social scientific research and the formulation of energy policy. Cooper’s case for ‘socio-technical’ energy research contains several empirical and logical flaws. We identify five points of weakness in what is intended to be a constructive critique. Though we share his concern that energy policy is less than ideal when lacking input from wider social science, we take a different view of why the problem Cooper identifies exists and, thus, what the appropriate solutions might be.