Citation

Peters DL. J. Appl. Dev. Psychol. 1980; 1(1): 7-27.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0193-3973(80)90059-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The relative influence of social science research in the formulation of social policy is reviewed through historical case studies of Head Start and federally funded day care within the United States. It is concluded that economic, social, and political factors are the principal initiators of broad program efforts and that social science research is influential in specifying the problem and the "fine-tuning" solution alternatives. The subjectivity of social science research is addressed by analyzing both the nature of the research questions asked and the advocacy role played by social scientists.