Between Politics and Science: Assuring the Integrity and Productivity of Reseach

by David H. Guston

• ISBN13: 9780521030809
• ISBN10: 0521030803
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-29
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book combines political-economic, sociological and historical approaches to provide a coherent new framework for analysing the changing relationship between politics and science in the United States. Fundamental to this relationship are problems of delegation, especially the integrity and productivity of sponsored research: politicians must see that research is conducted with integrity and productivity, and scientists must be able to show it. A science policy regime changes when solutions to these problems change. After World War II, the 'social contract for science' assumed that the integrity and productivity of research were automatic and, despite many challenges, that contract endured for four decades. But in the 1980s, as rich empirical studies show, cases of misconduct in science and flagging economic performance broke the trust between politics and science. New 'boundary organizations', in which scientists and nonscientists collaborate to assure the integrity and productivity of research, were created to mend the relationship.

Table of Contents

Tables and figures

Abbreviations

Preface

Introduction: making space for science policy

Science policy: structure and boundaries

Understanding the social contract for science

Challenges to the social contract for science

Assuring the integrity of research

Assuring the productivity of research

Between politics and science

Notes

References

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.