Allport Asks Government Support For Basic Social Science Research

Gordon W. Allport, professor of Psychology, joined two other social scientists recently in calling on the federal government to "earmark large-scale funds for basic research in human relations."

Along with Allport in the plea, which was stimulated by the recent outbreaks of religious vandalism, were Dr. Otto Klineberg, professor of Psychology at Columbia, and Dr. Robin M. Williams, Jr., professor of Sociology at Cornell.

The professors gave their view on federal aid to behavioral studies at a week-long seminar on prejudice held at the American Jewish Committee's Institute of Human Relations in New York.

Allport said he supported the idea of federal aid, but expressed doubt, when questioned, whether the government would be willing to make such allocations. He added, however, that it might be easier to get allocations for overseas research.

The three professors were agreed on the importance of understanding "through depth interviews and analysis" the individuals apprehended by the police in cases of religious vandalism.

Dr. John Slawson, executive vicepresident of the committee on prejudice, said that universities "should be doing more than they are now in dealing with prejudice." He called on universities to supply the basic research "which we can apply to the field."