Research and the Public Good

Robert Berdahl, a former chancellor at the University of California, Berkeley, stressed the importance of higher education's commitment to serving the public good in a 1999 speech at the National Press Club. In Berdahl's words, "We cannot lay claim to greater public investment--to which we must lay claim if we are to serve our function in a knowledge-intensive society that also subscribes to democratic values--unless we are seen to serve the public good" (London, 2003, p. 2). Public and private colleges and universities have accepted Berdahl's challenge in recent years (Kezar, Chambers, & Burkhardt, 2005; Lewis & Hearn, 2003). Many institutions of higher learning have highlighted education, research, and service on behalf of the public good as a guiding principle. For example, the University of Denver (2001) declares that it aims to be "a great private university dedicated to the public good." My colleagues in Denver have taken this charge seriously by developing and testing community-based interventions aimed at increasing public service and civic engagement among undergraduate and graduate students. Not surprisingly, the words "public service" or "public good" appear in the mission statements of many universities, including the University of California (2004), the University of Wisconsin (2006), and the University of North Carolina (2004). Higher education's commitment to public service and the public good, however, extends beyond simple public declaration. For example, the University of Michigan's National Forum on Education for the Public Good, supported in part by the Kellogg Foundation, has identified strategies necessary to expand public service activities among institutions of higher education in the United States (London, 2003). These strategies include a variety of approaches aimed at increasing student and Faculty interest in service learning classes, volunteerism, and research. RESEARCH FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD One might argue that nearly all social work research is related to the public good. After all, social work researchers design and conduct studies that seek to help vulnerable individuals and groups in high-risk schools, neighborhoods, and communities. Wouldn't the results of such studies by their very nature contribute to enhancing the well-being of society? Perhaps, but close examination of the nature of social work research reveals that many published social work reports are descriptive in nature and offer only modest implications for promoting positive change in social issues or policies (for example, Rosen, Proctor, & Staudt, 1999). Although complex in theory, purpose, and design, other studies fall short on matters of practical application. Among the major challenges of conducting research in the interest of the public good are the following: designing and implementing investigations that are compatible with the goals of public service; applying rigorous research designs in real-world settings; creating university--community partnerships; and disseminating the results of investigations. Studies Compatible with the Public Good In general terms, research in the social sciences includes studies that aim to describe and explain social phenomena. All types of well-conducted investigations afford the opportunity to advance knowledge in a particular area. Etiological studies yield important information about the onset of problem behaviors. Descriptive and exploratory investigations have the potential to inform the public about the nature of service delivery patterns in health, justice, child welfare, aging, mental health, and other service sectors. On the other hand, social work research that examines the effects of services and interventions may be most consistent with goals identified as compatible with the mission of promoting the public good. Intervention studies across all populations are needed to add to the knowledge base of efficacious prevention and treatment approaches for client, neighborhood, and community problems. …