USING THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SOCIAL-SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND INFORMED DECISION-MAKING

The United States has aggressively embarked on the challenging task of building a National Information Infrastructure (NII). This infrastruc ture will have many levels, extending from the building-block capital stock that composes the telecommunications system to the multitude of higher tier applications hardware and software tied to this system. Th is ''white paper'' presents a vision for a second- and third-tier nati onal information infrastructure that focuses exclusively on the needs of social science, education, and decision making (NII-SSEDM). NII-SSE DM will provide the necessary data, information, and automated decisio n support and educational tools needed to help this nation solve its m ost pressing social problems. The proposed system has five components: data collection systems; databases; statistical analysis and modeling tools; policy analysis and decision support tools; and materials and software specially designed for education. This paper contains: a visi on statement for each component; comments on progress made on each com ponent as of the early 1990s; and specific recommendations on how to a chieve the goals described in the vision statements. The white paper a lso discusses how the NII-SSEDM could be used to address four major so cial concerns: insuring economic prosperity; health care; reducing cri me and violence; and K-12 education. Examples of near-term and midterm goals (e.g., pre- and post-year 2000) are presented for consideration . Although the development of NII-SSEDM Will require a concerted effor t by government, the private sector, schools, and numerous other organ izations, the success of NII-SSEDM is predicated upon the identificati on of an institutional ''champion'' to acquire and husband key resourc es and provide strong leadership and guidance.