Sociology Research
and Development (R&D)
funding from the federal
government (as measured
by expenditures) increased
by 7.9 percent between
2005 and 2006. This number
outdoes the overall
average of 4.3 percent for
all R&D expenditures and
1.1 percent for overall
social science expenditures,
according to data
compiled by the National
Science Foundation (NSF)
(see accompanying table).
In addition, sociology
funding was higher in actual dollars as well as percentage increase than economics and
political science.
Sociology R&D expenditures by colleges and universities were $400 million in 2006,
compared to $339 million for economics and $317 million for political science, according
to a recent NSF Info Brief, a publication of the Division of Science Resource Statistics.
For more information, see www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf07336/). This upward
tick follows the trend in R&D expenditures for sociology as shown in ASA’s Health of
Sociology (see www.asanet.org/galleries/Research/SocHealthsheet_Funding.pdf).
R&D Expenditures at Universities and Colleges, by Field
2005–2006
(in Millions of Current Dollars)
|
| Field |
2005 |
2006 |
% Change |
| All R&D |
45,777 |
47,760 |
4.3 |
| Psychology |
826 |
875 |
5.9 |
| Social Science |
1,685 |
1,703 |
1.1 |
| Economics |
324 |
339 |
4.3 |
| Political Science |
324 |
317 |
–2.2 |
| Sociology |
370 |
400 |
7.9 |
| All Other Soc. Sci. |
667 |
649 |
–2.7 |
| Source: Adapted from National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics,
Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges, FY 2006. |
