Developmental Research, Public Policy, and the Ecology of Childhood

The policymakers should look to us, not only for truth, but, the authors must modestly confess, for wisdom as well, because social policy needs science.

Abstract

ence and social policy, the first axiom, at least among social scientists, is that social policy should be based on science. The proposition not only has logic on its side, but, what is more important, it recognizes our proper and primary importance in the scheme of things. The policymakers should look to us, not only for truth, but, we must modestly confess, for wisdom as well. In short, social policy needs science.