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It is strongly suggested that the customary sequence of events starting with sci & terminating with policymaking lacks empirical confirmation; that in fact, the actual sequence of events is primarily determined by policy stances & terminates with some form of sci'fic investigation, geared however to legitimation rather than explanation. 4 empirical case studies are examined: Brown vs Board of Educ, Project Clear, Project Camelot, & the D. Moynihan Report. In each case it is evident that the causal model most appropriate is one that recognizes the legitimation role of soc sci as dominant. The article concludes with an examination of key factors in the present structure of gov & sci that makes the teleological model central; it also points out that such a model is neither better nor worse than the customary way of viewing the relationships; the only diff is in implication & explication. Modified HA.

SEVERAL WRITERS HAVE POINTED OUT THE AMBIGUITY OF SOME OF THE MORE FREQUENTLY USED CONCEPTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE. WILLIAM RIKER, FOR EXAMPLE, ILLUSTRATED THE CONTRADICTORY CONSEQUENCES THAT AROSE FROM THE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF POWER.1 J.S. NYE AND ROBERT KEOHANE ELABORATED ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INTERDEPENDENCE AND INTEGRATION IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THESE CONCEPTS WERE OFTEN USED INTERCHANGEABLY.2 FRUSTRATED BY THESE AND OTHER CONCEPTUAL AMBIGUITIES, POLITICAL SCIENTISTS CONSISTENTLY HAVE ARGUED THE NEED FOR GREATER PRECISION IN DEFINING THEORETICAL CONCEPTS. A MAJOR REASON FOR INSISTING ON THIS CONCEPTUAL PRECISION IS TO PROVIDE HYPOTHESES THAT ARE UNAMBIGUOUSLY FALSIFIABLE. ONE ADVANTAGE OF EMPLOYING SYMBOLIC LOGIC IS THAT IT ENABLES US TO ACHIEVE A GREATER DEGREE OF PRECISION IN THE SPECIFICATION OF OUR THEORETICAL CONCEPTS. ONCE THE ORDINARY LANGUAGE IS TRANSLATED INTO ITS SYMBOLIC COUNTERPART OUR ABILITY TO STATE THE MEANING OF A CONCEPT IS ENHANCED.