The Value of Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences to National Priorities: A Report for the National Science Foundation
English
By (author): and Economic Sciences to National Priorities and Medicine Behavioral Committee on the Value of Social Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education Engineering National Academies of Sciences
Nearly every major challenge the United States facesfrom alleviating unemployment to protecting itself from terrorismrequires understanding the causes and consequences of people's behavior. Even societal challenges that at first glance appear to be issues only of medicine or engineering or computer science have social and behavioral components. Having a fundamental understanding of how people and societies behave, why they respond the way they do, what they find important, what they believe or value, and what and how they think about others is critical for the country's well-being in today's shrinking global world. The diverse disciplines of the social, behavioral, and economic (SBE) sciences ?anthropology, archaeology, demography, economics, geography, linguistics, neuroscience, political science, psychology, sociology, and statistics?all produce fundamental knowledge, methods, and tools that provide a greater understanding of people and how they live.
The Value of Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences to National Priorities evaluates whether the federal government should fund SBE research at the National Science Foundation (NSF), and, specifically, whether SBE research furthers the mission of the NSF to advance national priorities in the areas of health, prosperity and welfare, national defense, and progress in science; advances the missions of other federal agencies; and advances business and industry, and to provide examples of such research. This report identifies priorities for NSF investment in the SBE sciences and important considerations for the NSF for strategic planning.
Table of Contents- Front Matter
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- THE TASK
- Do the SBE Sciences Advance NSF's Mission? Health
- Do the SBE Sciences Advance NSF's Mission? Prosperity and Welfare
- Do the SBE Sciences Advance NSF's Mission? National Defense
- Do the SBE Sciences Advance NSF's Mission? Advancing Progress in Science with Innovative Theories, Methods, and Tools
- Do the SBE Sciences Advance the Missions of Other Federal Agencies?
- Do the SBE Sciences Advance the Work of Industry and Business?
- PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
- A FINAL WORD
- NOTES