Education and Training in the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences: A Plan of Action

摘要

Over the last quarter of a century, the world has undergone rapid change. Almost every aspect of human life is more complex and interdependent, requiring knowledge of human and social systems as well as physical and biological systems. The social, behavioral, and economic (SBE) sciences contribute penetrating insights on such issues as the causes and consequences of conflict, how individuals and groups perceive and misperceive hazards, how they understand or misunderstand the risks they run in their daily lives, and how they organize and structure their interactions and transactions. Understanding and utilizing this knowledge require basic competence in the SBE sciences in all citizens, and a talent pool of SBE scientists to undertake research and teach about it. Determining how best to improve education and training in the social and behavioral sciences is a challenge. Under the aegis of the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate, and with the active participation of the Education and Human Resources (EHR) Directorate, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has committed itself to this task. This report, undertaken at the request of NSF, is an outgrowth of that ambition. The purpose of the report is to provide guidance to NSF on the development of a strategic plan for education and training in the SBE sciences. The report focuses on four levels of education-K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral and early career stages-and on diversity issues. In each area, the report addresses key needs, impediments and challenges, and best practices as well as the components of an action plan.