Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 1.djvu/253



CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO SOCIAL SCIENCE. student of social science depends for his data upon two general sources—first, the results of personal observation, whether made by himself or others; second, the entries of official transactions and investigations into conditions conducted under governmental authority. His béte noire is insufficient information. If social science is anything more than a fad with him, he is skeptical of all statements, whether resulting from personal observation or official inquiry, which bear upon the relations of men, and from which he hopes to deduce some law or establish beyond controversy the cause of some existing condition. If he be scientific in his methods of study, he cares not so much what the results of investigation show as to feel assured that the showing is an accurate one. He is ready at all times to recast his opinions, modify his reasoning, and even to turn his mind into new channels of thought, whenever the facts indicate that such changes should be made. His face is always turned to the light. He is more fond of the inductive than of the deductive method of reasoning. He is the friend, therefore, of the historical school, and welcomes every endeavor of societies and of organized government to secure accurate and sufficient data bearing on the questions which interest him. So the efforts of governments everywhere to report the facts relative to the