NCJ Number
116888
Journal
Law and Society Review Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: (1989) Pages: 145-161
Date Published
1989
Length
16 pages
Annotation
In their paper in this issue Sherman and Cohn (1989) respond to arguments I made in this journal about when research is ripe for publicity.
Abstract
This paper continues the conversation by pointing out that policy-relevant research may be publicized at three levels: (1) in professional journals, (2) directly to those practitioners whose practice decisions might be informed by the research results, and (3) through the mass media. I then argue that the reliability of the results, the ability to communicate main findings precisely, and the likely effects of publicity are keys to responsible publicization at all levels. In weighing these factors researchers must regulate themselves, but to guide them the law and society community should seek to develop professional norms. I comment on some of the considerations that should guide such norms, using the Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment and publicity it received as an example. Notes, references. (Publisher's abstract)