Developments in the Methodology of Social Science

In: Theory and Decision Library, An International Series in the Philosophy and Methodology of the Social and Behavioral Sciences 6

In: Theory and Decision Library 6

Abstract

I. General Methodology -- A New Epitheoretical Analysis of Social Theories; A Reconstruction of their Background Knowledge including a Model of Statistical Decision Theory -- Theories and Phenomena -- Partial Interpretation and Microeconomics -- The Foundation of Science on Cognitive Mini-Models, with Applications to the German Methodenstreit and the Advent of Econometrics -- II. Methods for Laying the Foundations of Social Systems and Social Structures -- Systems of Social Exchange -- The Concept of Social Structure -- Societies and Social Decision Functions -- Honing Occam's Razor: A General System Theory Perspective on Social Science Methodology -- III. Vagueness, Imprecision and Uncertainty in Social Laws and Forecasts -- Toward Fuzzy Reasoning in the Behavioral Sciences -- Evolutionary Laws in the Social Sciences -- Methodological Analysis of Imprecision in the Assessment of Personal Probabilities -- The Necessity, Sufficiency and Desirability of Experts as Value Forecasters -- Rational Choice Models and Self-Fulfilling and Self-Defeating Prophecies -- IV. Methodology of Statistics and Hypothesis Testing -- Statistical Probabilities: Single Case Propensities vs. Long-Run Frequencies -- Variety of Objects as a Parameter for Experimentation: An Extension of Carnap's Inductive Logic -- The Strategic Combination Argument -- Index of Names -- Index of Subjects.