Trends and Projections in Social Control Systems

Abstract

This paper considers certain aspects of social change and its relation to the necessity for variety in a dy namic social system. Certain consequences for social control in the future can now be predicted by references to techno logical developments. It seems unlikely that the rate of tech nological change will be diminished, and it is essential that social changes be made which can accommodate the techno logical innovations. The problems which can now be fore seen form a basis for considering the priorities which should be accorded to different forms of social research. It may be that the pressing demand that social research should be de voted to the current social problems may have many undesir able consequences. Perhaps social science today is in an unsatisfactory state because ten years ago it was too much concerned with problems of ten years ago! Most of the simple models which were thought to suffice in social research are now clearly unsatisfactory. A revolution in social science method ology is necessary.