The selection of problems for research.

The need for selection of research problems and data imposes an obligation upon scientists to specify the criteria for selection. The possibility of securing universal generalizations is limited in social science, necessitating a shift toward methodological and practical studies. There is nothing unscientific about doing practical research, provided that the hypotheses are put in proper form; nor is there any opposition between theoretical and practical research. In fact, research which is deliberately practical is likely, from both historical and logical considerations, to have greater theoretical value and to meet more of the criteria of science than research which avoids practical implications.