Illustrates how knowledge derived from the discipline of economics can be used to help shed light on social problems such as poverty, exploitation, and alienation, and can help decision makers form policy to minimize these and similar problems. (DB)

The many definitions of responsibility" cluster around three separate but related dimensions: legal liability; causation; and responsible character. These are bound together by moral beliefs. When the moral underwriters change, the allocation of responsibility also changes. (Author)

Israel is viewed as an immigrant society in which Veterans and newcomers share similar aging problems. In addition, elderly newcomers must adjust to a new language and social system. (SD)

There are circumstances and threats that make it difficult to use the social sciences to help solve practical problems. For example, information that arrives too late will not be used. Yet, too late is not often defined. However, social and organizational psychology can be used to develop strategies to overcome these threats. (RM)

Many politicians have been indifferent or hostile to the application of the social sciences to social problems. Corrective steps include forging stronger links between politicians and social and behavioral scientists, expanding educational efforts to convey a better understanding of the social sciences, increasing lobbying activities, and…

The multifunctional aspects of the modern metropolis predetermine that the diverse elements of the population must be considered in planning schemes. The anthropologist, the planner, and the social scientist may no longer view the city from their quite different perspectives. (JB)

Six articles focus on various aspects on violence in American society. Titles are "Evolving a Science of Violence,""Violence by Youth; Violence Against Youth,""Victims and Aggressors in Marital Violence,""Television Violence, Victimization, and Power," and "Violence in Business Settings." (DB)

Reviews the trends in sociology since the 1930s. Identifies the still unresolved problems in the field including (1) redundancy resulting from difficulty in retrieving results of prior relevant research and lack of communication; (2) undue focus on trivial issues; (3) decline in microsociology; and (4) lack of a unifying theoretical paradigm. (NL)

Outlines the history of juvenile justice from the Bible to the present time. At present neither offending children nor society are getting a fair return. The result is a tendency to treat young criminals exactly as adult criminals, and to limit the range of behaviors subject to court jurisdiction. (Author/CK)

Discusses a sociological approach to understanding and changing ineffective and unsatisfying marital and family interaction and relationships. Stresses that the sociological approach requires understanding of conditions, values, and relationships which characterize American society. (Author/DB)

A framework involving five elements--cause, change agent, change target, channel, and change strategy--provides a useful framework for social action analysis. (Author)

A major problem in American public policy making is the difficulty of balancing domestic energy resource development with enhancement of environmental quality. Social restraints on energy-environment solutions necessitate the balancing of alternative futures. The interests of government, industry, and the public must all be considered in resolving…

Discusses strategies to improve policy makers' utilization of research based on the "two-communities" theory that social scientists and policy makers live in two different worlds. Notes that for high level decision making, collaboration must involve more general problems and a decision to use either data-based or nonresearch knowledge for solving…

Sensitive topics raise issues of ethics, politics, and legal aspects of research. There is concern for participants' rights and groups who may be affected by research. Notes that some argue research funding tends to serve the interests of the powerful by excluding support for research on issues detrimental to their interests. (NL)

Discusses social geography, explains why it defies easy definition, examines its focus on social problems, and concludes that social geography may eventually merge into human geography. (Author/DB)