RESEARCH IN 



SECTION 6 

 AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES 



By Raymond M. Hughes 



AND COLLEGES 



Introduction 



The Federal Government, in carrying on an exten- 

 sive program of research in a wide variety of fields, is 

 of necessity interested in the work and accomplish- 

 ments of all research agencies. Among the more im- 

 portant of these agencies are the universities and 

 colleges. 



The purpose of this report is (1) to show the par- 

 ticular research activities of the universities that are 

 of concern to the Government, and to point out the 

 chief contributions which the universities make to the 

 research i)rogram of the Nation; (2) to discuss re- 

 search personnel, most of which receives its initial 

 training in the universities; (3) to discuss the present 

 status of research in the universities; (4) to describe 

 the various ways in which the efficiency of research is 

 being promoted; and (5) to suggest methods which 

 might be widely used to enhance in value the research 

 output of the universities. The word "research" is 

 used in the broadest sense throughout the study. 



In preparing this report a study was made of all 

 reports bearing on income, expenditures, and research 

 made by the universities to the Office of Education for 

 1935-36. Material on research available from the four 

 national research coimcils and from various other 

 sources was used. A preliminary discussion on re- 

 search in the universities was prepared and sent to 200 

 leading institutions of higher learning, with a covering 

 letter containing certain estimates relative to research 

 expenditures and other matters concerning the respec- 

 tive institutions. It was hoped to secure rather com- 

 plete returns. About 60 institutions responded with 

 useful information. The nature of the subject permits 

 only estimates and prevents any attempt to speak 

 accurately. 



It seems desirable, however, despite the lack of s])e- 

 cific data, to attempt to look at the whole field of 

 research in the universities. Such an over-all survey 

 may open up useful discussions of important matters. 

 Most research workers and administrators are so con- 

 cerned with their own immediate interests in researcli 

 that they do not consider enough the work as a whole 

 or sufficiently relate their work to the entire research 

 enterprise of the country. 



The Chief Contributions of the 

 Universities to Research 



Any consideration of the relation of the Federal 

 Government to research must include a study of what 

 iti done by the universities and colleges. While the 

 Government carries on an immense amount of neces- 

 sary research, it must also rely on the colleges and uni- 

 versities, as it does on industry and business, for very 

 material help in this important field. The Govern- 

 ment is dependent on the universities and colleges in 

 eight distinct ways. 



1. As centers in which undergraduates are recruited to 

 research. 



2. As the chief centers of initial training in i-esearch. 



3. As sources of personnel for temijorary appointment in 

 Government service. 



4. As centers of research where Government workers can 

 secure advanced training. 



5. As important centers of "pure research." 



6. As local centers of origin of research problems and of 

 distribution of research findings. 



7. As local agencies with which the Government can cooper- 

 ate in solving local and regional problems. 



8. As sources of aid in solving research problems of national 

 concern. 



Recruitment of Undergraduates 



Tlie Government is interested in the universities and 

 the colleges as centers where able youth are recruited 

 to scholarly work and research. It is of vital im- 

 portance to the Federal Government that there be a 

 sufficient number of able men and women trained for 

 research to supply the demands in the Government 

 itself, in business and industry, and in the universi- 

 ties. Amid the many attractive, well-paid openings 

 available to the more brilliant college graduates there 

 is no one except their teachers to point out the ad- 

 vantages of scholarship and research as a life work. 

 It is therefore very important that the colleges and 

 universities be staffed with capable and inspiring 

 teachers who are able to recruit a reasonable propor- 

 tion of the most competent j'outli to research as a 

 vocation. 



Centers of Initial Training 



The universities are the chief centers where men 

 receive their initial training in the methods and tech- 

 niques of research. This fact is rather well brought 

 out b}' an analysis of the starred men in American Men 



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