What Research Might Contribute
What might research have contributed to reform? First, researchers might simply describe the
social problem that government faces. Most academic research on poverty and welfare has this
descriptive character. Second, research could tell government how to change social conditions
through policy. Officials seek to make instrumental statements in the form: If we change policy in
this way, then this result will follow. Of course, analytic input is only one basis for policymaking,
and seldom the largest one. Politicians do some things to honor their moral beliefs, regardless of
consequences. If policymaking rests on values rather than forecasting, research will play little role.
Research might be used to make instrumental connections at any point in the process depicted
in Figure 1. It might illuminate which reforms would resonate with public opinion, or command a
legislative majority, or be easy to implement, as well as have good effects. Above all, policymakers
need ways to cross the dividing line between government and society. They want to know what
government can do to generate favorable effects on social problems. In the welfare context, which
changes to AFDC will abate the problems linked to that system, above all low work levels among
the adult recipients? For research to have influenced welfare reform, policymakers had to ask
questions like this. Equally important, scholars had to be able to answer them.
What Research Might ContributeWhat might research have contributed to reform? First, researchers might simply describe thesocial problem that government faces. Most academic research on poverty and welfare has thisdescriptive character. Second, research could tell government how to change social conditionsthrough policy. Officials seek to make instrumental statements in the form: If we change policy inthis way, then this result will follow. Of course, analytic input is only one basis for policymaking,and seldom the largest one. Politicians do some things to honor their moral beliefs, regardless ofconsequences. If policymaking rests on values rather than forecasting, research will play little role.Research might be used to make instrumental connections at any point in the process depictedin Figure 1. It might illuminate which reforms would resonate with public opinion, or command alegislative majority, or be easy to implement, as well as have good effects. Above all, policymakersneed ways to cross the dividing line between government and society. They want to know whatgovernment can do to generate favorable effects on social problems. In the welfare context, whichchanges to AFDC will abate the problems linked to that system, above all low work levels amongthe adult recipients? For research to have influenced welfare reform, policymakers had to askquestions like this. Equally important, scholars had to be able to answer them.
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