Pittsburgh Surveyed: Social Science and Social Reform in the Early Twentieth Century (Regional)

The Pittsburgh Survey, undertaken at the beginning of the 20th century, was a pioneering venture in the use of social science methods to describe the social organization of a major industrial urban community. The survey studied the conditions of life and labor for many segments of Pittsburgh's population, detailing differences by race, ethnicity, gender, and occupation. The project's aims were avowedly policy-oriented, inspired by a Progressive-era belief that social science research could be used in the service of social reform. This edited volume, Pittsburgh Surveyed, grows out of a project in the 1990s at the University of Pittsburgh to situate the Pittsburgh Survey in its historical context. The contributors call attention to the divergence between the conception of social science as basic, value-free research and the outlook of those who want to put it to the service of reforming society. The volume is a useful introduction to a remarkable project that deserves to be better known.

Dr. Anderson remains a long-time educator at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and, at the ICPSR at the University of Michigan; she knows her history AND her quantitative methodology applied sensibly to history.This work - extremely difficult to locate these days - provides great insight into the mesh of these two "halves of the same whole" with grace and style. If possible, try and find it - it simply shines - and acknowledges the limitations of the time.Definitely a love affair with her writings - and her mind!