Social research and social policy: The theoretical connection

Thoughtful scholars have discussed the complex nature of the social research-social policy relationship, and yet many persons continue to plan, conduct, interepret, and fund social research as if they expected it to generate facts that have simple effects on policy. This paper argues that such expectations reflect two, untenable assumptions:Simple positivism andfactual efficacy. These assumptions are reviewed, and a more defensible model for the research-policy relationship is proposed based onplausible theory. Implications for the latter model are then explored. The holder of a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Michigan, his professional interests center upon role theory, the study of teaching, social decision-making, and relationships among social research, theory, and policy impact.