Evidence of the increase in family violence research is demonstrated by the expansion of journals examining these issues. Journal articles published from 1974 to 1988 represent approximately 20 percent of family violence research analyzed in "Sociological Abstracts" for that period. Public recognition and concern for issues such as child abuse and wife beating explain a growth in research while findings demonstrate a decrease in these behaviors. Social changes, including activism in the 1960's and the women's movement, sensitized the public to oppression and reinforced sociology as a source for improvements in society. Theoretical and methodological tools of sociology are applied to shape policy for social issues. Findings create conflicts for both social scientists who address the scientific legitimacy and ignore the political implications of data and for advocates of social movements who ignore the scientific aspects of the information. Though researchers could use media to change social policies through press releases and press conferences, academics are distrustful of disseminating research through media. Researchers feel they need to preserve the autonomy of inquiry and that research must be based on peer review and not opinions influenced by the media. 2 graphs and 65 references