Guidelines for Monitoring the Scientific Competence of Preventive Intervention Research Centers

Abstract

Advisingfunders of applied social science on how to optimize the validity ofsuch research requires an implicit or explicit "sociology of scientific validity. " While such a sociology is not yet formally available, this essay attempts to make recommendations upon such a base. The specific target is preventive intervention research in mental health. Twelve of the specific recommendations are directed toward creating a mutually-monitoring (reinforcing and criticizing) applied scientific community. One section addresses the undesirable side effects that monitoring by funders can produce. A third section of four parts addresses conceptualizations of validity appropriate to applied social science.