Effective Social Science : Eight Cases in Economics, Political Science, and Sociology

Does social science influence social policy? This is a topic of perennial concern among students of politics, the economy, and other social institutions. In Effective Social Science, eight prominent social researchers offer first-hand descriptions of the impact of their work on government and corporate policy. In their own words, these noted political scientists, economists, and sociologists―among them such influential scholars as James Coleman, Joseph Pechman, and Eliz Ginzberg―tell us what it was like to become involved in the making of social policy. These rich personal narratives, derived from detailed interviews conducted by Bernard Barber (himself a veteran of the biomedical poliy arena), illuminate the role of social science in diverse areas, including school desegregation, comprehensive income taxation, military manpower utilization, transportation deregulation, and the protection of privacy. The patterns traced in this volume indicate that social science can influence policy, but only as part of a pluralistic, political process; effective social research requires advocacy as well as a conducive social and idealogical climate. For anyone curious about the relationship between social knowledge and social action, this book provides striking illustration and fruitful analysis. Problem, Purpose, Plan -- Educational Policy For Youth And High Schools / James Coleman -- Manpower And Human Resources Policy / Eli Ginzberg -- Military Institutions, The Draft, And The Volunteer Army / Morris Janowitz -- Comprehensive Income Taxation / Joseph A. Pechman -- Deregulation Of The Transportation Industry / Merton J. Peck -- Unemployment Insurance Payments And Recidivism Among Released Prisoners / Peter Rossi -- The Protection Of Privacy In The Public And Private Sectors / Alan F. Westin -- Patterns And Conclusion -- The Ethics Of The Use Of Human Subjects In Biomedical Research (the Prototype Case) / Bernard Barber. Bernard Barber. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover Title page, Copyright, Dedication Acknowledgement Contents Chapter One: Problem, Purpose, Plan Chapter Two: Educational Policy for Youth and High Schools Chapter Three: Manpower and Human Resources Policy Chapter Four: Military Institutions, the Draft, and the Volunteer Army Chapter Five: Comprehensive Income Taxation Chapter Six: Deregulation of the Transportation Industry Chapter Seven: Unemployment Insurance Payments and Recidivism Among Released Prisoners Chapter Eight: The Protection of Privacy in the Public and Private Sectors Chapter Nine: Patterns and Conclusions Appendix: The Ethics of the Use of Human Subjects in Biomedical Research (The Prototype Case) Index