Editorial Note

This issue of SPS contains an article presenting a comparative assessment of four major research programmes in the Scandinavian countries. Taking its point of departure in C. Wright Mills's critical account of US social science in the 19505, the article discusses various problems associated with the phenomenon of major research programmes. In order to stimulate a debate on various problems addressed in the article, the draft was circulated to the respective programme directors, inviting them to respond to the arguments raised in the article. We present the article and comments submitted by the Danish, Finnish and Norwegian research programme directors. The Norwegian rejoinder is co-authored by the programme director and a representative for the Norwegian Research Council for Applied Social Science. The author of the article will respond to the rejoinders in the next issue of SPS.