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Investing in Research Infrastructure in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (1998) / Chapter Skim
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Research Infrastructure in the Behavioral and Social Sciences
Pages 3-8

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From page 3...
... have conducted a number of studies related to collective resources for research infrastructure in the behavioral and social sciences. In 1969 and 1989, CBASSE reviews of social and behavioral science progress laid out research infrastructure priorities.
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From page 4...
... This report, therefore, is limited to a discussion of the processes to improve the allocation of scarce funds for research infrastructure in the behavioral and social sciences. This report: -- discusses briefly the definitions and dimensions of behavioral and social science infrastructure; -- summarizes the modest evidence on trends in the investments in infrastructure; -- recommends a selection process and criteria for deciding among infrastructure proposals; and -- suggests changes to facilitate the effective Tonger-term management of research infrastructure investments for the behavioral and social sciences.
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From page 5...
... Studies of cognitive functioning are revealing both specificity and generality of function: in some cases, specific brain sites are now identified with functions, while in others imaging is showing the distributed properties of functions. Definitions Although most researchers directly and indirectly depend on various kinds of infrastructure for their work, there is no formal or comprehensive definition of research infrastructure for the behavioral and social sciences (Johnson, 1997~.
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From page 6...
... Much of the workshop discussion focused on intellectual infrastructure, which is similar to what NSF/SBE defines as instrumentation/information systems and databases. These databases are critical for a vast amount of the research in both the behavioral and social sciences.
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From page 7...
... , the rough comparison is suggestive because the needs and costs of behavioral and social science infrastructure have been increasing over time. Looking at the first 65 years of this century, a survey by Karl Deutsch and his colleagues found that only about 25 percent of the major scientific advances in the behavioral 7
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From page 8...
... Much of the research infrastructure needs specified in the report focused on data issues. But the study also used a questionnaire of academic departments in universities to estimate the cost of research equipment per fulltime-equivaTent faculty member and by discipline within the behavioral and social sciences.
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