Federal support of research in the life sciences

Federal support of contract and grant research in the life sciences continued to grow during the period 1952-55 and showed an increase of 28 percent between the years 1954 and 1955. The basic biological science component (Table 2) increased from $18 to $26 million between 1952 and 1954 and to $30 million in 1955. Although a greater dollar amount is now available for basic research in the life sciences, the amount available in 1955 was proportionately a smaller part of the total than was the amount available in 1954. In 1955, $52 million was expended for activities which were not categorized as basic research. The needs and motivations of the major granting federal agencies are, and continue to be, primarily problem-and program-oriented.     

Communication in the physical and the social sciences

Although composed of similar elements and structured similarly, the communications systems associated with the physical sciences and the social sciences differ markedly with respect to the operation and use of these elements. For both groups of disciplines, as information flows through the system it encounters lags and filtering, and much of a scientist's communication behavior is an effort to compensate for these factors. Because the lags and filtering within each system differ in loci and extent, the members of different disciplines adjust to them differently, and the overall information flow patterns in the physical and in the social sciences differ.     

Ensuring the data-rich future of the social sciences

Massive increases in the availability of informative social science data are making dramatic progress possible in analyzing, understanding, and addressing many major societal problems. Yet the same forces pose severe challenges to the scientific infrastructure supporting data sharing, data management, informatics, statistical methodology, and research ethics and policy, and these are collectively holding back progress. I address these changes and challenges and suggest what can be done.     

从医学人类学看自然科学与社会科学的一体性

受二元对立思维模式的影响,自然科学与社会科学被认为存在这巨大的分歧。本文通过对交叉学科——医学人类学的研究方法、研究对象、研究者的社会化、理解与解释的方法论应用与道德命题这五个方面的探讨,力图发现两个学科的一体性与合作的可能。     

哲学社会科学与高等教育

高等学校肩负着培养社会主义事业建设者和接班人的历史使命。哲学社会科学是当代大学生的必修课,加强哲学社会科学教学教育工作对学生的培养教育具有十分重要的作用。搞好哲学社会科学教育必须加强师资队伍建设,不断创新教学内容、形式与手段。