Role Relationships Between Researchers and Policymakers

This paper explores attempts which have been made to close the gap between researchers and policymakers in the social and behavioral sciences. The traditional role of the researcher is viewed as being isolated from attempts to apply research to the world of action. Methods to alleviate this situation are discussed. Educational research and development centers are cited as the most conducive to a good working relationship between researcher and policymaker, essentially because the researcher has an obvious potential recipient for his work. There is a need for superstructural levels where knowledge input could be integrated into long range planning and experimentation. (SE)