Suchergebnisse

Theory and Method in the Social Sciences was first published in 1954. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. A series of essays dealing with some previously neglected areas of theory and research in the social sciences make up this volume. The problems considered fall into the general categories of social theory, values in social research, the contributions of sociological theory to the other social sciences, methodological issues in sociology, and some specific techniques of sociological research. The chapter entitled "A Theory of Social Organization and Disorganization," published here for the first time, won for Dr. Rose the 1952 prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for essays in social science. Although addressed primarily to sociologists, the book offers material of interest and value to other social scientists, particularly economists, psychologists, political scientists, and students of law

One of the weaknesses of research in Africa is the little consideration that is given to questions of epistemology and methodology. What we see is the trivialization of research protocols which, consequently, are reduced to fantasy prescriptions that detach social studies from universal debates over the validity of science rather than an interrogation of research procedures induced by the complexity of social dynamics. As a result, social sciences have become an imitative discourse and a recital of exotic anecdotes without perspectives. Knowledge production therefore loses any heuristic bearin

I Foundations -- 1 Science, Systems Methodology, and the "Interplay between Nature and Ourselves" -- 2 On the Use of Structured Methodologies in General Systems Research -- 3 Fuzzy Systems Theory: A Framework for the Analysis of Humanistic Systems -- II General Methodological Approaches: The Theory/Data Interface in Social Systems Investigation -- 4 The Methodology of Q-Analysis Applied to Social Systems -- 5 General Systems Modeling of Conflict within Nations -- 6 Theory of Measurement of Impacts and Interactions in Systems -- III Systems-Based Tools for Social Science Research -- 7 Social Networks and Multilevel Structure: System Description and Simulations -- 8 Hypotheses behind the Sociological Interview: Test and Reformulation -- 9 A System Concept and Its Impact on Multiobjective Decision Models -- Name Index -- List of Contributors.

In this article, I examine "Ontology Matters!" (OM!) arguments. OM! arguments conclude that ontology can contribute to empirical success in social science. First, I capture the common form between different OM! arguments. Second, I describe quantifier variance as discussed in metaontology. Third, I apply quantifier variance to the common form of OM! arguments. I then present two ways in which ontology is prior to social science methodology, one realist and one pragmatic. I argue that a pragmatic interpretation of ontology's priority gives proponents of realist OM! arguments a special burden that they must meet to render their argument successful.

In 1991 the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) published "Postgraduate Training Guidelines". Throughout the document emphasis is placed on the need for universities to make postgraduate students aware of the methodological issues that affect their work. This text explores the relationship between knowledge, methodology and research practice across the broad spectrum of the social sciences in langage that is accessible to researchers at all levels of their research careers. It follows the themes that there is no single practice or correct methodology, and that the diversity and variety in terms of methodology and disciplinary focus are a sign of the sophistication and complexity of the proceses of social research. The text examines socio-cultural contexts of social research and relates them to contemporary shifts in focus such as feminism, critical theory and postmodernism. The importance of selecting the research methodology most appropriate to the subject discipline concerned is emphasized

At the rise of the twentieth century, armed with the success of natural sciences, the school of naturalism argued that the appropriate methodology for all disciplines, including social sciences, is that of natural science. The paper argued that social sciences cannot be naturalised and has its own appropriate methodology. The paper examined the arguments for naturalism and non-naturalism of the method of philosophy of social sciences. The paper employed both primary and secondary sources of data. Data collected were subjected to critical analysis and philosophical argumentation. The results showed that the nature of social sciences is such that it cannot be subjected to only scientific methods. The paper concludes that there is a need for a methodology that understands the subject matter of social sciences to address issues in social sciences. The paper addressed some key issues in philosophy of social sciences.
Keywords: Methodology, Natural sciences, Naturalism, Social sciences.

Existing literature glosses over the often difficult inter-relationship between practical research design and the theoretical underpinnings of methodology. This text addresses such issues head on and helps the reader to better understand each stage of the research process

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface -- INTRODUCTION -- The Rise and Fall of Logical Positivism -- Weber and Positivism -- Observation and Interpretation -- Weber and Phenomenology -- Weber's Methodological Essays -- Notes -- References -- CHAPTER ONE -- Introduction -- The Battle of the Methods -- Weber and the Methodological Unity of the Sciences -- The Nomological Model -- References -- CHAPTER TWO -- The Problem of the 'Irrationality' of Human Action -- Understanding and Interpretation I -- References -- CHAPTER THREE -- Understanding and Interpretation II -- The Methodology of the Social Sciences: Conclusion -- References -- Index