initiated, the actual indicators in the report were 

 based largely on readily available data. As a 

 result, the indices deal principally with re- 

 sources — funds and personnel — for R&D, the 

 disciplinary and functional areas to which the re- 

 sources are directed, and the institutions which 

 carry out the teaching and research functions. 

 Relatively few output measures of either an in- 

 trinsic or extrinsic nature are presented, because 

 of the limited data available and methodological 

 problems of separating the distinct contribu- 

 tions of science and technology from those of 

 other factors. Furthermore, the few such indi- 

 cators which are presented (e.g., quantity and 

 quality of scientific publications, patent output, 

 and trade in technical knowledge) are subject to 

 considerable uncertainty as to valid interpreta- 

 tion and significance. These deficiencies limit the 

 conclusions which can be drawn regarding the 

 performance and contributions of the enter- 

 prise. 



The first five chapters of the report present 

 the initial set of indicators. The indices, 

 wherever possible, are time series, usually ex- 

 tending from the early 1960's through 1972. 

 Indicators are presented in graphical form and 

 numbered so as to correspond with the 

 numerical data tables in Appendix A. Preceding 



each of these chapters is an "indicator high- 

 lights" section which briefly summarizes the 

 major indices presented in the chapter. These 

 sections, it should be noted, often omit 

 impcirtant caveats and discussion contained in 

 the full text. 



The last two chapters present results from 

 opinion and attitude surveys of topics related to 

 the state of science, which are not amenable to 

 purely quantitative treatment. The first of these 

 is a Delphi survey of the judgments and opinions 

 of a wide cross section of the scientific and tech- 

 nological community; the topics covered include 

 the future role of science and technology in areas 

 of high public concern, impacts of recent R&D 

 funding changes, and basic research and criteria 

 for allocating resources among scientific fields. 

 The second is a survey of attitudes of the public 

 toward science and technology; topics covered in 

 the survey include the public regard for science 

 and technology, their assessment of its impacts, 

 and their desires for its future use in coping with 

 national prciblems. 



The task initiated with this report is 

 ambitious; the present effort clearly represents 

 only a beginning. The reports to follow in this 

 series will aim to improve the concepts, refine 

 the treatment, and expand the scope to include 

 other facets of science and technology. 



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