176 



National Resources Coinmittee 



It is apparent that only the broadest definition will 

 cover what is spoken of as "researcli" in universities 

 and colleges differing so widely; also, only the broadest 

 definition will cover investigations, so classed in tlie 

 Government, in business, and in industry. It is in 

 this broad sense that "research" is discussed in this 

 paper. 



Lack of Organized Research 



University research is left largely to the initiative 

 and direction of the individual professor. Wliile most 

 of the research carried on by industry, business, and 

 Government is organized and directed to the solution 

 of specific, immediate problems, a large part of the 

 lesearch in the universities is independent and unor- 

 ganized, controlled and directed chiefly by the interests 

 of the individual professor, and it is directed toward 

 the solution of more basic and less immediate prob- 

 lems. The very emphasis on the importance of train- 

 ing research workers tends to lessen the emphasis on 

 ( he type of research conducted. So long as the research 

 gives the desired training in methods and technique 

 it serves its most important purpose. Furthermore, 

 (he imiversity as an institution is largely free from 

 responsibility for solving any specific problems. Aside 

 from the obligations of the agricultural experiment 

 stations and certain other specially financed research 

 institutes within the universities, the research inider- 

 taken properly originates in the scholarly curiosity of 

 the staff members and must be largely free and indi- 

 vidual. University research workers generally are 

 sti'ongly opposed to any suggestions of organization 

 or checking up on research.* 



However, in I'esearch foundations where training of 

 graduate students is not carried on, and in researcli 

 iiistitutes within universities, where the research find- 

 ings are the sole object, there is more leadership, or- 

 ganization, institutional planning, and mobilizing of 

 research forces to solve problems than is found 

 throughout the universities. Also, almost invariably 

 the research is organized in projects and each project 

 is pushed to a conclusion, in a way less often found 

 in ordinary university research. 



Freedom of Research in Different 

 Areas of Knowledge 



In the discussion of freedom in research witii men 

 connected witli private and public universities and in 

 the Governinent service respectively, the fact was 

 brought out that the men in each type of service felt 



« In contrast with the great freedom in research, it is worthy of 

 note that since the universities regard the granting of the Ph.D. as an 

 Important university responsibility, the training and examination of 

 the candidate is carefully organized, and is not left to the independent 

 judgment of any one man as is the case with research. 



entirely free themselves but regarded men employed 

 in tlie other two services as far from free. The facts 

 seem to be that, depending partly on the source of 

 support, partly on the type of control and on differ- 

 ences in the attitude of heads of departments in the 

 Government and of executives of imiversities, each de- 

 paiftment and institution is not free in certain limited 

 areas. Fortunately, in areas where one type of em- 

 ployment limits research, men in other types of em- 

 ployment are free to carrj' on such research. Wliere a 

 Slate university may not be free to study and criticize 

 a branch of a State govermnent, a Federal agency, an 

 endowed university, or a research foundation will be 

 entirely free to cari-y on the study and publish its 

 findings. Where some private universities may not be 

 free to studj' and report on certain aspects of capi- 

 talism, research foundations or public universities may 

 be free to make such studies. 



A study to determine areas of useful research wliere 

 freedom is restricted would seem desirable. If these 

 fields were studied by the various types of institutions 

 it seems probable that some suitable division of labor 

 could be arrived at through which all the needed re- 

 search could be well done with embarrassment to no 

 one. 



Notable Facilities 



'\Aliile in many fields competent men are the only 

 seriously important factors in research, since the neces- 

 sary facilities can be secured with relative ease, it is 

 important that the Government know, first, where re- 

 search facilities difficult of duplication are located and, 

 second, where research centers are so well developed 

 through the assembly of men, books, and all needed 

 facilities that research can be carried on, and with 

 relative ease : 



1. Types of research facilities difficult of duplication, of 

 which there are probably bet^^een 100 and 200 altogether iu the 

 country : 



a. Heavy testing machinery. 



b. Astronomical oquipmeut. 

 e. Botanical gardens. 



d. Hospital and medical school equipment. 



e. Aeronautical testing laboratories. 



f. High temperature testing laboratories. 



g. Low temperature testing laboratories, 

 h. High-voltage research laboratories. 



i. Animal breeding records and stock. 



2. Examples of university research centers of importance, of 

 which there may be 100 or more: 



a. The Food Research Institute at Stanford University. 



b. Biological research at the University of Chicago. 



c. Social .science research in the South at the University of 



North Caroilina. 



d. Institute of Human Relations at Tale. 



e. Economic geography at Clark. 



