Social Sciences and Social Problems : Some Comments on the Paper of Henry W. Riecken.

Yehezkel Dror

Expert InsightsPublished 1969

Review of a journal article on the problems of applying social sciences to social policymaking. Professor Riecken discusses well the problems of "social engineers" in politics, the difficulties in university structures, and the need for policy research organizations. However, he does not go far enough in assessing the changes in social sciences and government that are necessary for effective policymaking. Nor does he consider the current trend toward the creation of a policy sciences interdiscipline to fill policymaking needs rather than the redesign of social sciences. The author's negligence in dealing with these aspects is not his fault but is due to a lack of information on which to base analyses. Such issues cannot be dealt with by the present social sciences, even with incremental changes, but require the establishment of a new policy sciences interdiscipline. 9 pp.

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Dror, Yehezkel, Social Sciences and Social Problems : Some Comments on the Paper of Henry W. Riecken. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1969. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P4202.html.
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