ABSTRACT
Throughout his highly productive life, Jack Tizard was strongly committed to the application of research methods in psychology to issues of relevance for social policy and practice (see Clarke & Tizard, 1983). However, he was equally committed to the need for basic research that is focused on the elucidation of the processes and mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal development. In his letter to the Chief Scientist outlining the philosophy of the Thomas Coram Research Unit, he was forthright in arguing that it was essential to combine both approaches. Research must bring forth new ideas and fresh knowledge so that patterns of practice may be improved in the future; it is not enough simply to assess the best of what is being done today.
