The tasks, working situation, and professional role assigned to applied social scientists are analysed. The processes of basic and applied social research are systematically compared, and it is demonstrated how applied social research has to meet all the cnteria of traditional basic research as well as the specific criterion of social relevance. The problem of how to develop adequate critena for evaluating applied social research is addressed. The widespread downgrading of applied social research is analysed in the context of the lack of adequate criteria for evaluating applied social research on its own premises.
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