Three obstacles appear to frustrate the potential contribution of empirical research and social science to policy formulation. First there is the inherent conflict in the political decision making process; second, reality is so complex it defeats our ability to locate the sphere of understanding which we should apply; third, knowledge presupposes…

Experts testifying at the National Nutrition Policy study hearings on June 19-21, 1974 in Washington, at the invitation of the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs, recommended several steps which the committee staff feel merit a prompt Congressional response. This report prepared by staff incorporates those recommendations,…

Massive social changes are bound to occur with the extension of mass information utilities: the fundamental question is how shall this massive reconstruction of social information power be designed for the best interest of people. This book grew out of an American Federation of Information Processing Societies (AFIPS) conference, and is organized…

In the experimental project reported, the U. S. Office of Economic Opportunity delegated its resources to the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs for the purpose of comparing public and private sector approaches to social planning in rural areas. A private agency, Community Services of Pennsylvania, was designated by the Department of…

With diminishing returns to the peer group, it is optimal social policy to mix children in schools. We consider what happens when, contrary to the outcome being determined by a social planner, schools and children are free to seek each other out: with some caveats, this leads to perfect segregation by child quality. It is shown that this is the…

The MetroLink project supported and studied the process of collaboration for human resource development in American metropolitan areas. The project was conducted in 1984 and 1985 in the following eight metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Georgia; Boston, Massachusetts; Hartford, Connecticut; Indianapolis, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Minneapolis,…

The basic needs and services that the vast masses of the population in developing countries must have to improve their quality of life are examined. Chapter 1 of nine chapters discusses implications of rapid population growth for social and economic planning. Rapid population growth in the developing countries is discussed in chapter 2. Food…

President Lyndon Johnson's support of Federal aid to education rested on the belief that schools were effective agents of upward mobility in American Life. Achievement in school, poverty planners thought, was directly related to later economic status. The question of whether poverty planners were justified in making these assumptions in developing…

Sociology will more meaningfully address social change within the private sector if it considers the relationship between business planning and the constraints which operate on industry in the sphere of technology implementation. Specifically, sociologists should incorporate realities of business planning into industry-related models if sociology…

This volume contains the papers presented at the conference in edited versions along with certain reference materials. As they influenced the proceedings of the task groups, these papers are reflected in the contents of Volume I (SO 000 819). As a group they offer many useful ideas concerning the theory and methodology of family intervention and…

The purpose of this bibliography has been to develop an operational resource to persons wanting to become effective community change agents. It is used in conjunction with the community-training activities of the University of Cincinnati's Community Human Resources Training (CHART) Program, described in the introduction to the bibliography. The…

No technique of forecasting exists with which a "single" future can be predicted accurately. We can, however, project a set of significantly different but quite plausible lines of future development, a set of alternative future histories, which we hope will bracket the one future that comes to be. Since social indicators are specifically designed…

Discusses the difficulties of educational reform in what was formerly East Germany. Describes the educational system in East Germany as uniform and military in nature. Criticizes the one-sidedness of socialist education and its politicalization. Compares classroom atmospheres before and after the Germanies were united. (DK)

Project CARE's Second Annual Report identifies and describes activities undertaken by CARE staff between 1 July 1976 and 31 August 1977. Each section addresses a major project component, function, or activity proposed or achieved and contains tasks and accomplishments projected for completion during the third and final year of operation. Section 1…

A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using the computer-based Synagraphic Mapping Program (SYMAP) and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) in formulating an efficient and accurate information system which Creek Nation tribal staff could implement and use in planning for more effective and precise delivery of…