Some frontiers in social science

The fundamental challenge in the social sciences is moving from complicated correlations to useful prediction. Progress usually reflects an interplay between theory, data, and tools. Six areas of innovation, principally data and tools, are now pushing at the frontiers of these sciences: longitudinal data, laboratory experimentation, improved statistical methods, geographic information tools, biosocial science, and international replication. These innovations are gaining power as they cross disciplinary boundaries, helping to attribute causality to observed relationships, to understand their nature, and thereby to improve the accuracy and usefulness of predictions.     

On the social science contribution to governmental decision-making

It is often said that a major impediment to effective government is the lack of research knowledge underlying the development, implementation, and assessment of federal policies and programs. An examination is made here of the causes of (i) some continuing failures in integrating research information with decision-making and (ii) some notable successes of the past two decades in matching research capabilities with policy needs. Six recommendations are made to facilitate and further the progress that has recently been achieved.