114 



2. Social science methods, approaches, and training of practitioners 

 differ from those in the physical sciences. 



3. Findings of social science cannot be subjected to experimental 

 verification. 



4. The scope of social sciences is limitless, and administratively 

 infeasible to encompass in a single agency. 



5. Social science is inherently controversial, and would discredit 

 and jeopardize support for the physical sciences. 



6. Social sciences are not sciences in the same sense that the physical 

 sciences are. 



In general, the tone of the preliminary report and its accompanying 

 appendix gave the impression of an enthusiastic endorsement of the 

 social sciences as a worthy and coequal academic partner with the 

 physical, biological, and medical sciences in the new agency. 



However, by the time the subcommittee made its final report on 

 NSF legislation, February 27, 1946, a note of caution was evident in 

 its attitude on the inclusion of the social sciences. While still "firmly 

 convinced" that they should be included, and that they would be able 

 to make "significant contributions to almost every department of 

 government," it was also true that "these younger disciplines have 

 not had time to perfect their specialized techniques * * *." 



Therefore — 



With a carefullj' planned and administered program of support, the social 

 sciences promise to make even more important contributions to the solution of 

 the problems of the future. Because the specific research needs of the social 

 sciences have not been subjected to such careful study as those of the physical 

 and biological sciences, your subcommittee has recommended that initial support 

 of research in these fields be limited until adequate planning studies have been 

 completed.*^ 



This note of caution was repeated in the report of the parent 

 Committee on Military Affairs, in presenting S. 1850 to the Senate 

 for its consideration. The report, April 9, 1946, gave verbatim the 

 above quotation from the final subcommittee report.*® But, in intro- 

 ducing the subject, the full committee finding included the statement: 



The committee has rejected the proposal that the social sciences be specifically 

 excluded from support by the new agency, because of the demonstrated inter- 

 dependence of the physical and social sciences. S. 1850, however, makes special 

 provision to assure that all social studies supported by the Foundation are in 

 fact scientific in character." 



The provision in question was as follows: 



The functions of each division [of NSF] shall be prescribed by the Administrator 

 after receiving the advice of the [National Science] Board, except that until the 

 Administrator and the Board have received general recommendations from the 

 Division of Social Sciences regarding the support of research through that Divi- 

 sion, support of social science research shall be Hmited to studies of the impact of 

 scientific discovery on the general welfare and studies required in connection with 

 other projects supported by the Foundation. ^^ 



" U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Military Afiairs. National Science Foundation. "Report on 

 Science Legislation From the Subcommittee on War Mobilization to the * * * Pursuant to S. Res. 107 (78th 

 Cong.) and S. Res. 146 (79th Cong.), Authorizing a Study of the National Resources of the United States," 

 Feb. 27, 1946, print containing S. 1850, 79th Cong., 2d sess., Subcommittee Report No. 8 (Washington, 

 U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946), p. 6. 



" U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Military Affairs. National Science Foundation. "Report from 

 the * * * Pursuant to S. 1850, a Bill To Promote the Progress of Science and the Useful Arts, To Secure the 

 National Defense, To Advance the National Health and Welfare, and for Other Purposes," Apr. 9, 1946, 

 79th Cong., 2d sess. S. Rept. No. 1136, Calendar No. 1153 (Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, 

 1946), p. 8. 



<" Ibid., p. 2. 



" Ibid., p. 18. 



