First published in 1986, Social Science and Social Policy addresses major questions concerned with the social utility of social science. The book provides a critical examination of policy-making processes, social science research, alternative methodologies and the role of analysis.

List of Figures and Tables Acknowledgements Abbreviations Preface Social Science and The Policy-Making Process 1. The Policy Process and the Place in it of Social Research 2. The Many Meanings of Research Utilization 3. The Social Policy Process Types of Research Utilization 4. Types of Research Utilization: An Overview 5. Continuous Social Surveys: Monitoring Social Change and Analysing Interrelationships 6. Public Opinion Polls 7. Tools for Policy-Making: Indicators and Impact Assessment 8. Evaluation Research and Social Experimentation 9. The Value of Qualitative Methods Problems of Analysis and Inference 10. The Role of Theory in Applied Social Science Research 11. The Ecological Fallacy: Its Implication for Social Policy Analysis 12. Explanation and Social Policy: 'The' Problem of Social Inequalities in Health Policy Implementation 13. The Use and Abuse of Social Science Bibliography Index