This article discusses the choice of priority areas, including in the social sciences and humanities, based on the needs of society and the so-called grand challenges, rather than in the traditional logic of development of basic science, which can evolve at its own pace, not always in accordance with the actual needs or effective demand. This approach fits into the new conceptual logic presented in the Strategy for the Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation. Sociological surveys of two types—general public poll and expert assessment—are used to facilitate the choice of priorities.