Organised Research
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.1934.tb02375.x |
| Published date | 01 January 1934 |
| Date | 01 January 1934 |
Public Administration
Organised
Research
Monographs
on
:
-
(a)
The Metropolitan
Community.
By
Prof.
R.
D.
MACKENZIE.
21s.
net.
(b)
Trends
in
Public
Administration.
By
Prof.
LEONARD
D.
WHITE.
24s.
net,
IN
December,
1929,
President Hoover named the committee to
survey social changes
in
America. Funds for the researches were
granted by the Rockefeller Foundation, an expert staff was recruited
from Universities and other scientific institutions, and
a
series
of
investigations were begun early
in
1930
which were concluded in
1932.
The Committee,
in
a foreword to the series of monographs which
contain the results of these investigations, speak enthusiastically of
their position and work.
“
The undertaking,” they say,
“
is unique
in our history. For the first time the head of the nation has called
upon a group of social scientists to sponsor and direct
a
broad
scientific study of the factors of change in modern society.”
The uniqueness of the occasion induced the committee to step
warily.
‘‘
To
safeguard the conclusions against bias, the researchers
were restricted to the analysis of objective data.” Other types
of
research were rated highly,
‘‘
But an investigation initiated by the
President in the hope that the findings may be of service in dealing
with the national problems of to-day and to-morrow, should be kept
as
free
as
possible from emotional colouring and unverifiable
conjectures.”
As regards the two volumes
now
under review
;
that
by
Professor
R.
Mackenzie is a review of the growing urbanization of American
life, an estimate
of
the chief causes of the movement of population,
a
statement of the effect of
this
on family and social life. As an
essay illustrative of the social significance of census statistics, it is
a
careful, honest piece of work. Possibly
its
value might have been
increased if Professor Mackenzie had transferred some of his working
material to appendices. Other improvements would have been the
devotion
of
some space to a statement
of
the effect on business and
well-being
of
the changes discovered, proved, and measured; and
a
statement of what America was doing about it. But presumably these
did
not come within the Professor’s terms of reference.
Professor White sets out the facts about the distribution of func-
tions between various kinds
of
authority in America as affected by
recent changes. He tells
us
of the development
of
managerial tech-
nique, and gives a lot of information regarding the improvement
in
the qualification methods of recruitment and training (after entry)
of
American officials-subjects of great interest to readers of
this
journal.
He interests his readers in the growing efficiency and professionaliza-
86
RECENT
SOCIAL
TREN’DS
IN
THE
UNITED
STATES.
Published
by
McGraw-Hill Publishing
Co.
Ltd.
To continue reading
Request your trial