Support for Research in Social Psychology at the National Science Foundation

Abstract

Data from the Social and Developmental Psychology Program at the National Science Foundation (NSF) were analyzed for general trends in funding from 1956 through 1987. All 628 new grant proposals for fiscal years 1982 through 1987 were analyzed in detail. Success rates, proportion of total proposals submitted, and proportion of awards are presented by seniority, sex, status of PhD-granting department, status of submitting department, resubmissions, and subject area. There was no discernible pattern for seniority or sex. Researchers trained in Distinguished or Strong departments had higher success rates than those from Adequate or Good departments. However, status of submitting institution may be more important in the success rate than where the PhD was earned. Only status of submitting department was significantly related to success rate over the six years examined. Overall results show that a variety of investigators, institutions, and subject areas are represented among awards made since 1981.