GOVERNMENT RESEARCH FUNDING AND PURCHASED VIRTUE - SEE EXAMPLES FROM CRIMINOLOGY

• NCJ Number: 60096
• Journal: Crime and Social Justice Volume: 11 Dated: (SPRING-SUMMER 1979) Pages: 44-50
• Author(s): J F GALLIHER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EARLIER VERSION OF THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 1976

Annotation

METHODOLOGICAL AND SUBSTANTIVE PERSPECTIVES ON WAYS IN WHICH SOCIAL SCIENCE, AND PARTICULARLY CRIMINOLOGY, IS RESPONSIVE TO ETHICAL, MORAL, AND POLITICAL DEMANDS OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING AGENCIES ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

GOVERNMENT IS IN A STRONG POSITION TO MAKE DEMANDS ON SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH BECAUSE SUCH RESEARCH, INCLUDING CRIMINOLOGY, HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DEPENDENT ON FEDERAL FUNDING. THIS DEPENDENCE ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING HAS ALLOWED THE GOVERNMENT TO PURCHASE WHAT SHOULD BE THE RESEARCHER'S MORAL AND POLITICAL DECISION ABOUT WHAT METHODOLOGY TO USE. QUESTIONS ABOUT POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT DOMINATION OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ARE RARELY RAISED, DUE AT LEAST IN PART TO THE MYTH OF A PEER REVIEW SYSTEM THAT IS BELIEVED TO SELECT PROJECTS FOR FUNDING ON THE BASIS OF A PROJECT'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT. THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT IS SEEN NOT ONLY IN THE FUNDING PROCESS ITSELF BUT ALSO IN THE TYPE OF RESEARCH FUNDED. THE GOVERNMENT FAVORS SCIENTIFIC STATISTICAL STUDIES OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS CRIME AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY. FUNDED RESEARCH ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, ASIDE FROM TYPICALLY USING LARGE NUMBERS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, HAS CONCENTRATED ON THE STUDY OF INDIVIDUALS. BY LIMITING RESEARCH TO THE STUDY OF INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS ARE PRECLUDED. LIMITING ANALYSIS TO THE ENUMERATION OF CITIZEN RESPONSES, HOWEVER, IS INTENDED TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS. IN THE STUDY OF CRIME, SOCIAL SCIENTISTS TYPICALLY EXAMINE THE BEHAVIOR AND VALUES OF THE POOR. THIS EMPHASIS IS REFLECTED IN MOST PAROLE PREDICTION STUDIES AND ALSO IN RESEARCH DEALING WITH CRIME DETERRENCE. THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER ETHICAL AND POLITICAL STANDARDS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH IS EMPHASIZED. REFERENCES ARE LISTED. (DEP)