Flying Blind or Who Needs Social Science, Anyway?

The connection between social science research and policy is usually tenuous at best, but here's an example of how policy completely disregards empirical evidence: the recently published study that suggests abstinence-only education programs don't work, and actually might increase sexual activity among teens, and the subsequent proposal from the Bush administration to increase funding for these programs by $38 million to a total of $192.5 million in 2006 ("Bush Budget Calls for Cuts in Health Services," New York Times, February 5, 2005).

The study referenced above has its methodological flaws, the most obvious of which is the lack of a comparison group, so we can't rule out other explanations for the results. But to increase funding for this crap? Oh, and by the way, mr. prez, your freaking boot camps don't work either.