ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the problems inherent in the relationship between social science researchers and policy-makers. Disagreements stemming from these different attitudes towards methodologies can result in greater weight being given to quantitative data than to qualitative data from the same study, or in attempts to limit data collection to quantitative methods especially when levels of funding are discussed. The policy audience for which such final reports are intended seeks a clear presentation of the major findings, free of social scientific jargon with a minimum of qualifications and complexity. Jaeger and Wenger's chapter describes how parts of the report were edited, printing was held up, dissemination was limited and authorship was not acknowledged. In addition to the inherent tensions between the two models of the research process, the social scientist and the administrator or bureaucrat come from contrasting professional contexts which are distinct from but impinge upon their perceptions of the research process.
