ABSTRACT
The social science establishment was not taking applied work seriously, and there was little consensus and no regulation about professional or ethical standards. Social scientists are rapidly moving into action roles, and all over the place—and particularly in organizations—are springing up as advisers, problem-solvers, and "change agents". Social scientists who become consultants because they have specialist knowledge in one area will often be consulted on topics outside their own special knowledge. One problem is that the notion "social science" covers not only a multiplicity of roles, but also a very wide range of areas of knowledge and of different possibilities of application. Society can get rid of its politicians, but it cannot get rid of its eminent academics. Social scientists, in turn, may consent to take this role, since many people take up social science in the first place because they are idealistic and look to it as a means of channelling their idealism.
