ABSTRACT
The scholarly consultation is a powerful procedure in the arsenal of social science. Applied research and consultation are always geared to the client's goal; if the scientist cannot accept this goal as worthwhile he is likely to produce a report of limited use to the client. The advantages of the consultation over the project in cost, and in time required to deliver recommendations, are obvious. The disadvantage of a consultation is its dependence on what is found in the tradition of a science. In principle, proponents of projects and proponents of consultations should be able to agree on a division of labor; however, since this division also involves a division of the client's dollars, disagreements are likely in practice. While the proper thing is to engage a researcher at any point of ignorance, the consultant is tempted to proceed by guesswork, thus making a mockery of his professed scientific approach.
