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

The organization andfinancing of research 71 I
Air Force set up Rand, these centres may be established on a considerable scale,
for the problems to be solved are of a complexity which compel the bringing
together of a critical mass of the highest talent under conditions where they can
work co-operatively. It may be deplored that Rand owed its existence to the
cold war. It is necessary, however, to distinguish etiology from system properties
and the relevance of these to entirely different sets of conditions. Before long
birth was given to a civilian counterpart in Systems Development Corporation.
In the beginning such organizations were based on the physical and mathematical
sciences. They developed advanced techniques in systems engineering. But
from the beginning they involved the social sciences. Econometrics and operational
research led at Rand to the development of the Planning-Programming-
Budgeting System (P.P.B.s.). After its success in the Pentagon this is being tried
out in all agencies of the Federal go~ernment.3~ Current interest speaks to the
need for improved methods of programme evaluation and cost-benefit analysis
in the public sector;’ current criticism to the need for the social sciences to
make further headway with research into problems of ‘multi-valued choice’.I97
29. How far can such organizations apply their capabilities in systems analysis
to large-scale problems of medical and educational planning and of urban
renewal, especially if they increase their understanding of the psychological
and sociological variables? A recent set of essays on the requirements of a
‘great society’ suggested the creation of at least seven organizations of the Rand-
type to undertake strategic R & D in the civilian field.I43 The kind of many-sided
problem which confronts a large modern society undergoing rapid change is
sometimes referred to as a meta-pr0blem.~37 Its multiple aspects are not only
connected but are perceived to be connected, so that social demand rises for
comprehensive solutions. These entail the massing of large-scale scientific
resources. The physical sciences in conjunction with such organizations as the
National Aeronautics and Space Agency have become used to this, as have
leading firms in the science-based industries. To such resources not only Federal
agencies but State and municipal governments have recently been turning for
assistance. At present some universities, through collaborative arrangements
between their professional schools and university-wide institutes, are attempting
to offer an alternative and differently patterned capability. They can also join
in with the large independent institutes, and, given certain conditions, with
advanced firms in comprehensive efforts to meet the gigantic problems now
facing American society. Unless they do so on an extensive scale leadership in
several areas of social science wil pass to technologically based institutes and
advanced industrial firms. Some of these latter are experimenting in building
new towns. They employ large numbers of social scientists to assist them. There
is health in pluralism when resources are plentiful, but there is danger if those
who have a fundamental commitment to the advance of knowledge lose control
beyond a certain limit over the development of any area of the social sciences.
This they wil do so far as they remain tied to academic isolationism and individualism,
and to the pursuit of vested interests in particular disciplines.
30. Another type of independent institute which has recently appeared is
concerned with studies of the future. Examples are the Hudson Institute and