EUGENE–As adoptive parents seek a child, Ellen Herman believes that science can help them build a healthy, happy family. In return, she feels that the same family can offer scientists valuable insights into basic human needs and behaviors.

Social and behavioral scientists long have viewed adoption as an ideal laboratory in which to study human needs, kinship and related issues. Studies of adoption are particularly popular for scientists exploring whether "nature" or "nurture" is more important in the development of a child.

"But science and social welfare have a common history that has not often been explored," says Herman, an associate professor of history at the University of Oregon.

Herman’s current research project, "Kinship by Design: Adoption Science and Scientific Adoption in Modern America," is funded by a $125,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Science and Technology Studies program. Her research examines adoption and its relationship with science in the 20th century, focusing on historically important studies in psychology, behavioral genetics, sociology, social work and other related fields.

Adoption studies take two distinct forms, according to Herman. In adoption science, social and behavioral scientists study adoption cases to learn about human nature. In scientific adoption, social workers and policy makers use scientific methods to promote child welfare and family harmony through careful "design" of adoptive families.

"Social workers don’t normally consider themselves scientists, but along with policy makers and others involved with adoption, they must make complex moral, social and legal decisions that transform ‘biological strangers’ into kin," says Herman. "You can see how state adoption laws and agency practices have become more standardized through scientific rationalization."

Historical research on adoption in the 20th century has been hampered because states began sealing adoption records in 1917 and these have been off-limits to scholars and adoptees. Herman’s investigations won’t rely on adoption records, but she feels that Oregon’s unique new open records law and high-profile public discussion about adoption policy will generate interest in her research.

"Most contemporary references to adoption take the form of personal narratives, ‘how-to-adopt’ guides and popular culture portrayals of adoptees and adoption controversies," says Herman, who plans to write a book at the end of the two-year study. "I hope to tell a story about human science and modern experience that will appeal to scholars, and also to tell a compelling human story for people with personal or professional connections to adoption."

The grant will enable Herman to teach half-time and hire a graduate research assistant for each of the next two academic years.

"It’s unusual for graduate history students here to have financial support for doing research, rather than teaching or grading," she says. "I’m delighted to have the NSF’s support and to be able to extend this opportunity to our students."

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