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Social Science and Society: Looking for Rules of Engagement Reinhard Zintl

Social Science and Society: Looking for Rules of Engagement Reinhard Zintl. Contribution to the Conference on "Quality and Impact of the Social Sciences", Vienna, September 17, 2008. Social Science and Society. 1. Quality, Impact and Relevance

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Social Science and Society: Looking for Rules of Engagement Reinhard Zintl

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  1. Social Science and Society: Looking for Rules of EngagementReinhard Zintl Contribution to the Conference on "Quality and Impact of the Social Sciences",Vienna, September 17, 2008

  2. Social Science and Society 1. Quality, Impact and Relevance 2. The Supply Side: Uses and Relevance of Science 3. The Demand Side: Contracts and Political Decisions 4. Specifics of Social Science 5. Principles and Rules

  3. 1. Quality, Impact and Relevance By good quality (of science) we mean, at least inter alia, that (socially) relevant knowledge is produced Impact we may define and measure by the use people take as a consequence of the results of scientific activity Quality then is connected conceptually to relevance ; but connection between relevance and impact is an empirical matter

  4. 2. The Supply Side: Uses and Relevance of Science 2.1. Direct and specific use: provision of knowledge on how to treat well defined problems 2.2. Provision of general frameworks which help in identifying problems and in setting priorities 2.3. Contribution to the Formation of Social Capital

  5. 3. The Demand Side: Processes 3.1. Contracts: Independent micro decisions; Mainly demand for direct and specific use. Clear incentives, good learning conditions on both sides 3.2. Political Decision: A synoptic mechanism, demand for theories, positive and normative (and also for provision of social capital), only then for direct and specific use. Incentive structure and learning conditions less clear than in the contract arena

  6. 4. Specifics of Social Science 4.1. Social Science in the Contract Arena: The role of Social Science here is not as prominent as for instance the role of natural science or engineering, but it is not discriminated against either 4.2. Social Science in the Political Arena: Here lies the central function of Social Science. It is not only used in contexts of societal policy (economics, education …), but in any policy fields. Thesis: The difference between Social Science and other sciences with respect to quality and impact is not intrinsic, but rather has to do with these specifics of its uses

  7. 5. Principles and Rules 1. The difference should be seen and accepted by all – by science and society 2. Quality criteria should not be misplaced. 3. In direct use external funds and number of publications, patents etc. are valid indicators 4. Where the use is indirect, relevance should be measured in indirect ways. Not alone by specific results but by the way they are brought about. 5. Science has to be more transparent; the public should be more patient with complex and complicated arguments

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