Accountability: Restoring the Quality of the Partnership

Abstract

In October 1978, the independent National Commission on Research began to review the problems of the government-university research relationship and to recommend improvements. The central issue of difficulty in this relationship is accountability. The public wants to be assured that the best research is produced and that public moneys are not wasted. The government wants to attain its program objectives and fulfill its stewardship responsibilities. The universities want to conduct research well, avoid diversion of resources to meet unnecessary administrative requirements, and protect. the integrity of their operations. Both the universities and the government seek to maintain public confidence in their activities.