Policymakers' Use of Social Science Research

Abstract

Technology assessment (TA) is one model for synthesizing social science research and theory for policymakers. TA requires an unbiased assessment of social research presented in understandable and policy-relevant form. This article describes the conduct of three studies for the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) concerned with psychotherapy, treatment for alcoholism, and the conduct of polygraph tests. The studies indicate the potential for systematic integrations of social research and their function in a political and policy environment. Review of these studies suggests that theory is critical in policy research and that social research, rather than a decision-making tool, can serve an "educative" function aiding policymakers to understand complexity.