Main trends of research in the social and human ... - unesdoc - Unesco

584 Pierre de Bie
From a reading of these statements, some idea can be gained of the extent to
which problem-focused research makes for continuity in studies, and of the
part that these may be called upon to play in progressive societies.
In some sectors the development of problem-focused research advances less
systematically, though after a comparatively short time it may be marked by a
great dynamism due to a growing concern on the part of interested individuals
or bodies. Thus the beginnings of gerontological research are relatively recent,
the impetus having been given by spontaneous and often isolated initiatives.
Very soon, following the first results achieved by studies of various kinds, there
was a growing awareness of this matter among administrations and responsible
bodies.
Before long research was being increasingly carried out at the instance of
public authorities at both the national and local levels and social security
organizations; to this should be added, in certain countries, help from special-
ized foundatiom6
The purpose of the major surveys on old people recently carried out in
various countries (United States of America, Denmark, United Kingdom and
Belgium) has not been solely to advance scientific knowledge or to furnish in-
formation on the social situation and living conditions of the aged, but also to
provide a basis for policies concerning their health, housing, standard of living,
activities - in short, ways of better meeting their needs.
The foregoing remarks explain the scope of the concept of ‘problem focusing’
or ‘orienting’; this presupposes a realization and a consideration of the social
problems and needs for which the research worker proposes to help provide an
answer by the elaboration of appropriate research. There is a twofold relation:
on the one hand, awareness of a problem and, on the other, concern to provide
an answer that will be useful from the point of view of knowledge.
Problem-focused and free basic research
Broadly, the distinction seems relatively simple. Problem-focused research
centres on the problems which arise in the life of societies, whereas free basic
research, for which knowledge for its own sake is the model, responds to no
stimulants other than research itself. The latter is independent, autonomous, and
may originate from mere curiosity or even a flight of fancy on the part of a
research worker. On one hand there is research oriented towards the practical
with its concern to cure, anticipate, organize, appraise, plan or predict; on the
other, research concerned with exact knowledge, its sole purpose being to shed
a clearer light on reality so that the intellect may better apprehend it.
Outwardly, the distinction is clear-cut. But is the same true as regards sub-
stance?
There are many authors who challenge its validity. It cannot be claimed that
the distinction is absolute, because it depends on the intentions of the research
worker: his motivations may be highly diverse and variable. Can they therefore
really provide a basis for the distinction? Is that distinction useful? Even in