text: of social pathology, etc. Such analysis, it was noted, would require a data linkage capability at appropriate levels of disaggregation. To the extent that such a capability could be developed, it would be possible to progress beyond descriptive statements of what had occurred towards an examination of how observed conditions had come about. As such a capability was developed, it would be possible to test theoretically­ derived hypotheses concerning particular social phenomena and to offer empirically based suggestions with respect to , possible policy interventions designed to ameliorate unfavorable conditions or facilitate progress towards specified social goals. D. ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS 123. The Group recognized that a major obstacle to the development of integrated socio-economic development plans was the prevalent division of functional responsibilities into sectoral areas, such as eco­ nomic growth, health, education, welfare, and the like. One result of that division had been the proliferation of different concepts and pro­ cedures that needlessly complicated the necessary co-ordination of data collection efforts and gave rise to avoidable duplication of research 8 A basic reference is Social Indicators: Preliminary Guidelines and Illustrative Series (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.78.XVII.8); also pertinent is Improv­ ing Social Statistics in Developing Countries: Conceptual Framework and Methods (to be issued in the same series). 31 activities. Given the interdisciplinary nature of socio-economic planning, the Group urged the establishment of collaborative mechanisms that would facilitate the incorporation of the perspectives and insights of the different disciplines in developing integrated socio-economic plans and in devising appropriate social indicator measures to monitor their progress and impacts. 124. The inclusion of the statistical collecting agency in the collabora­ tive mechanism was stressed in order to educate statisticians to look beyond their traditional data series and to consider the collection of data more appropriate to many social welfare requirements. The Group further emphasized the importance of including in these co-operative 
analysis: The text discusses the development of integrated socio-economic plans, data collection, and statistical analysis for social welfare and economic development. It highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of considering social indicators to monitor progress and impacts. The text does not specifically focus on natural resources, environment, agriculture, forestry, fishing, industry, transport, communication, international trade, humanitarian aid, culture, or science and technology.