158 



CongressioTial stim/iblation of adTninistration and leglslatwe assessTnent 

 of the prohlein 



Congressional objectives for fashioning an improved relationship 

 of the social sciences with the Government are also reflected in activi- 

 ties by the executive branch and the social science community. 



Social science response 



Statements on the ethical responsibilities of the social scientist doing 

 research for the Government have been issued by universities and pro- 

 fessional groups. Most of the statements hold that universities and 

 individual social scientists should not do classified research, except 

 under conditions of extreme threats to national security ; that sponsor- 

 ship should be known; that author should retain publication rights; 

 and that review should be performed by the peer group instead of the 

 Government.^^^ 



However the most valuable contributions of social scientists are 

 from activities which go beyond solving the practical and ethical 

 problems of doing classified and military sponsored research. Social 

 scientists have increasingly come to assess their responsibilities to 

 policy formation. For instance, at a conference on ethical issues in 

 the social sciences, held by the National Institutes of Health, social 

 scientists concluded that : 



We cannot avoid the fact that how we spend [increasing sums of Federal 

 research money given to us] is no longer simply a scientific problem, but also a 

 public problem and a political issue. [We may want to maintain free scientific 

 inquiry] but we can be certain that the behavioral sciences will be used in- 

 creasingly both in the formation and execution of public policy. We may like 

 or dislike the ivory tower — it makes little difference for changing social reality 

 has destroyed the wall."' 



AdTninistration response 



Tlie executive branch took steps to comply with some of the con- 

 gressional recommendations and hearings for reorganization of the 

 formulation of social science policy. 



For instance, in February 1968, President Johnson expanded the 

 President's Science Advisory Committee by appointing Herbert 

 Simon, the first social scientist ever to be appointed to that group.^^^ 

 And on February 1, 1968, the NSF announced the establishment of 

 a Special Commission on the Social Sciences. Members of the Com- 

 mission, will address themselves to: (1) Analysis of mechanisms 

 needed to improve Federal Government utilization of the social sci- 

 ences; (2) analysis of the collaboration needed between social and 



^^ For Instance, see : Murray Schumach. University of Pennsylvania Clarifies Policy 

 on Secrrt Research Contracts. New York Times (Sept. 9, 1966) ; Ethics and Social Science 

 Research, edited by Leonard Reissman and Kalman H. Silvert. American Behavioral 

 Scientist (vol. 10, No. 10, June 1967),; Ethical Problems of Political Scientists. Political 

 Science. Newsletter of the American Political Science Association (vol. 1, No. 1, winter 

 1968). pp. 5-15. 



^' Gresham M. Sykes. Peeling Our Way : A Report on a Conference on Ethical Issues 

 In the Social Sciences. (Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, Summer 1966.) 

 The American Behavioral Scientist (June 1967), pp. 8-11. 



n' Formerly Chairman of the Board of Social Science Research Council and Chairman 

 designate of the Division of Behavioral Sciences of the NRC, and currently professor of 

 industrial administration and psychology at the Carnegie-Mellon University. (PSAC 

 appointments. Science (February 1968), p. 861.) 



