Conducting Influential Research: The Need for Prescriptive Implications

Abstract

Ferraro, Pfeffer, and Sutton argue that the core basis for the dominance of economics lies in the institutionalization of the norms and language of economics. I argue that they externalize the blame for the failure of other social sciences, and I challenge the other social sciences to develop a research agenda that is capable of providing useful prescriptions to individuals, organizations, and society. I believe that internalizing the challenge, rather then externalizing the blame, is key to making the other social sciences more powerful.