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

The organization and financing of research 749
9. As regards institutes, the way in which sociological activities were organized
in the Polish Academy in 1965 may serve as an illustration.78 First of all came
the sociological division of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology with 60
research workers in four sections dealing respectively with urban, rural and
labour sociology and with basic sociological research. Next were two multi-
disciplinary research centre’s one on the Industrialized Regions, with ZI socio-
logists and another on Cultural Problems of Contemporary Africa with 7
sociologists. In addition the Institute for the History of Science and Technology,
also multi-disciplinary, with 4 sociologists, engaged in research in the planning
and organization of science. This illustration may serve to show the mix of
fundamental and problem-oriented research. The Polish Academy is among the
most developed outside the Soviet Union. Sociology is more prominent there
than elsewhere in Eastern Europe. In 1968 a reorganization of the Institute of
Philosophy and Sociology took place. In the sociological division four sections
were created to deal with the theory of socialist society, research on social
change, and research on social structures, while the fourth section was to be put
in charge of the actual carrying out of the studies. Their goal is to prepare a
plan for joint research on the socialist socio-political system, the changing social
structure under the influence of technological progress in industrial and
agricultural production, and the organization of social and cultural life.*
Social science planning at the national level
IO. In all countries of Eastern Europe science planning, in which the social
sciences are included, is part of the central planning characteristic of these
societies. A complex process of collaboration and discussion takes place with
respect to plan formulation and plan implementation. A large number of bodies
and many levels of decision are involved. An account has been given (by Adam
Schaff) of how a five-year plan was made in the sociology division of the Insti-
tute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy.82 The theme had to be
broad enough to embrace individual research plans and the orientations of its
four sectors; attractive to those concerned; of practical utility; and capable of
providing material for international scientific cooperation. Following consulta-
tions both inside Poland and with other countries, the choice fell on the social
implications of industrialization and technical progress. Agreement was obtained
from the Scientific Council. The various sectors then drew up their own plans in
conformity with broad topics which were set. An example was social change in
the Polish countryside as the result of industrialization. Since the project had
national importance, ‘analytical studies’ were conducted involving the Presi-
dium of the Academy as well as the Directorate and Scientific Council of the
Institute. A large industrial centre was being constructed in an agricultural
area. An ad hoc Scientific Committee composed of those practically concerned
as well as research personnel inside and outside the Academy was set up to
consider the social, economic, demographic and cultural implications. The
Committee then worked out with the Institute’s sociological division how a sys-
tematic study of the area could be made part of the long-range research plan.
* Communication to UNESCO from the Polish Academy of Sciences, 1969.