EDITORIAL. 303 



it has formulated a number of generalizations in regard to the 

 qualities of research and the conditions favorable to it. 



In the last report of the Institution its president, Dr. R. S. Wood- 

 ward, says : " It is in evidence — 



" 1. That it is inimical to progress to look upon research as akin 

 to occultism and especially inimical to mistake able investigators for 

 abnormal men. Successful research requires neither any peculiar 

 conformity' nor any peculiar deformity of mind. It requires, rather, 

 peculiar normality and unusual patience and industry. 



"2. That fruitful research entails, in general, prolonged and ar- 

 duous if not exhausting labor, for which all of the investigator's 

 time is none too much. Little productive work in this line may be 

 expected from those who are absorbingly preoccupied Mitli other 

 affairs. Herein, as well as in otlier vocations, it is difficult to serve 

 two or more exacting masters. 



" 3. That those most likely to produce important results in research 

 are those who have already proved capacity for effectiveness therein 

 and who are at the same time able to devote the bulk of their energies 

 thereto. In general, men are not qualified for the responsibilities of 

 research until they have completed independently and published sev- 

 eral worthy investigations. 



"4. That research, like architecture and engineering, is increas- 

 ingly effective in proportion as it is carefull}'^ planned and executed 

 in accordance with definite programs. A characteristic defect of a 

 large majority of the proposals for research submitted to the insti- 

 tution is a lack of tangible specifications. Estimates, especially of 

 time and funds essential to carry out such proposals, are almost 

 always too small. Those commonly made, even by skilled investiga- 

 tors, may be on the average safely doubled. 



" 5. That, in spite of the most painstaking foresight, research tends 

 to expand more rapidly and hence to demand a more rapid increase 

 of resources than most other realms of endeavor. Its unexpected 

 developments are often more important than its anticipated results, 

 and new lines of inquiry often becomes more urgent than those care- 

 fully x)rearranged for pursuit. 



" 6. That it is much easier, in general, to do effective work of re- 

 search in the older fields of inquiry than in the newer ones. It is 

 especially difficult to enter those fields in which there is as yet no 

 consensus of opinion concerning what ma}'' be investigated and what 

 criteria may be followed. In some of the older fields, however, like 

 the so-called humanities, for example, there is at present no such 

 consensus of opinion, if one may judge from the large mass of expert 

 but hopelessly conflicting testimony furnished to the Institution by 

 its correspondents. In such fields it appears now practicable to pro- 

 ceed only in a somewhat arbitrary fashion, accomplishing here and 



