THE AUTHOR REVIEWS ONE OF THE BASIC SOCIAL SCIENCE CONCEPTS AS IT IS UTILIZED BY PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, MAKING A CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION OF THE TERM "SYSTEM" AS IT RELATES TO THE FIELD OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION. INCLUDED IN THE ANALYSIS ARE KEY IDEAS EXPRESSED BY THE TERM, DISTINCTIONS THAT SERVE AS VALUABLE GUIDES IN FORMULATING PROBLEMS FOR EMPIRICAL RESEARCH, AND MISUSES OF THE TERM THAT DENY IT UTILITY IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE. THIS DOCUMENT IS A REVISION OF A PAPER PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION (NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 16, 1967), AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT, CENTER FOR THE ADVANCED STUDY OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION, HENDRICKS HALL, UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, EUGENE, OREGON 97403, FOR $1.00. (JK)