The project took on permanent form as the Office of Radio Research, moving to Columbia in 1939.
Daniel Lerner's involvement in the Bureau of Applied Social Research was the subject of criticism regarding his work in The Passing of Traditional Society[2] was alleged to have violated certain ethical considerations while conducting research for the book.
Samarajiva writes that even though the original purpose of research had been said to be about empathy and media participation, many of the questions in the survey had to do with foreign radio broadcast and sentiments regarding US, UK and USSR.
In fact, Samarajiva writes that,"A restricted document from the Program Evaluation Branch, International Broadcasting Division, Department of State, titled 'Projected Research Plans' and issued prior to the actual research, lists the questions Voice , of America was interested in having asked.
"[3]He, therefore, argues that BASR research formed the basis to find target audiences for Voice of America.