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

The organization andfinancing of research 713
33. An independent organization which represents a unique development is
the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences established in 1955
by Ralph Tyler with the assistance of a grant from the Ford Foundation. It
asserts a value which runs counter to the prevailing ‘productivity’ values of
American universities. It provides for 50 Fellows (some of whom are from
overseas) to go into residence every year under conditions where they are free
to do what they want - which includes nothing. There is no direction and no-one
has to write a book or even attend a seminar. The disciplinary range covers all
the social sciences. There is a mix of ages as well as disciplines. Promising
scholars at an early stage of their careers mingle with outstanding senior
people on an equal footing. The absence of more conventional pressures, boun-
daries and values has provided the enabling condi’lions for a great deal of origi-
nal (as distinct from merely ‘productive’) work, sometimes to be started and
sometimes to be completed. A number of gifted social scientists have undergone
profound changes in orientation and career. There are signs that other centres
of a similar kind may come into existence. The idea is spreading to other
countries.*
Federal agencies as supporters of the social sciences
34. There is little co-ordination in the United States either within or between the
main sectors providing funds for social research. The sectors in order of
amount contributed are government, university internal funds, business and
foundations. As regards government, grants are distributed through a large
number of special agencies according to their own needs and predilections. The
National Science Foundation is the only central agency in the United States
government with responsibility for all the sciences and their nurturance. Brought
into existence in 1950 to support fundamental research in the natural sciences,
its concern now extends to the social sciences and encompasses certain areas
also of applied research.’ Nevertheless, the social sciences have so far had to
look for their main support to operating departments of government. The
table below (p. 714) shows the extent to which the various federal agencies
gave support in 1967.25 The balance is 2-1 in favour of applied as against basic
projects. Applied in this context includes some long-range problem-oriented
studies but rather more short-term contracts. The distribution is J-shaped,
twelve agencies contributing less than $I million, six 81-10 million, six $610-
100 million, and one more than $100 million.
35. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) has been the
main supporter, accounting for half of total Federal funds distributed to social
sciences (1967). Among the many activities of this multiple agency attention
may be drawn to the Institutes of Health, which cover all specialisms of medi-
cine, the body more particularly concerned with the social sciences being the
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Like the other institutes, it runs a
large internal programme with a research hospital, several specialist sections
* e.g. the establishment in Britain of the Centre for Developmental Sciences at Minster
Lowell near Oxford.