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

794 Eric Trist
senting the national income. Valuable as this may be for investigating such
problems as the relation of investment in research to the rate of economic
growth, it does not contribute to the solution of another problem which bedevils
the international comparison of scientific endeavours. This is the relative cost of
research in one country as compared with another. It has been suggested that a
beginning might be made in the social sciences by comparing the mean salaries
of various grades of scientific worker at international exchange rates. This,
however, would not give their meaning in terms of prevailing standards of
living - or comparative status. Account would also have to be taken of the
total educational cost of producing a social scientist. The costs of capital con-
struction items, equipment and supporting services would raise further com-
plications. Opportunity costs, especially in smaller and less developed coun-
tries, would also have to be considered. It is suggested that a special study be
undertaken of this problem.
The method of comparing key institutions
6. Offered below is a table prepared by the Science Policy Division of UNESCO
based on a particular key institution in each of the countries represented. In
view of the difficulties encountered in compiling overall statistics this method
has much to recommend it. Overall country R & D comparisons would show the
social science share as much less. In the table quoted, however, the function of
the various institutions is not the same. Though all undertake fundamental
work, some have responsibilities or applied work, others have none. Many
include the humanities, a few do not. The method of comparing key institutions
requires the functional equivalence of these institutions to be investigated.
Annual expenditure of key research organizations in different countries (1965)
Organizations Physical and Social
biological sciences sciences and
(inc. technology) humanities
% %
~~ ~
Fonds national de la recherche scientifique
(Belgium)
Academy of Sciences (Czechoslovakia)
Centre national de la recherche scientifique
(France)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
(Federal Republic of Germany)
Royal Foundation for Scientific Research
(Greece)
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Zuiver
Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (zwo)
(Netherlands)
Academy of Sciences (Hungary)
Academy of Sciences (Poland)
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cien-
tificas (Spain)
National Science Foundation (USA)
Academy of Sciences (USSR)
72
88
92
83
94
89
83
83
92
92
88
18
I2
8
I7
6
I1
17
I7
8
8
I2