Some of the presumed advantages that research centers and institutes have over the individual investigator are: (1) the ability to study large and/or long-range problems; (2) increased interaction with multidisciplinary colleagues; (3) the development of new and improved instrumentation; (4) their potential role in communications and…

Contract research has increased because of: agencies' time limits; governmental agencies' skepticism about academics' practicality; and a power struggle between government and universities for control of the information production business. Implications of the increase in contract research are discussed and recommendations are made. (MH)