Making it count : the improvement of social research and theory / Stanley Lieberson.

Format:

• Book

Author/Creator:

• Lieberson, Stanley, 1933-2018.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

• Sociology--Research--Methodology.
• Social sciences--Research--Methodology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 257 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, c1985.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This title reexamines and reconsiders the model of empirical research underlying most empirical work. The goal is neither a whitewash nor capital punishment, but rather it is to reform and mold empirical research into an activity that contributes as much as possible to a rigorous understanding of society. Without worrying about defining science or even determining the essence of the scientific enterprise, the goal is one that pools together logical thinking and empirically determined information. One of the fundamental issues to be addressed in this volume: Are there questions currently studied that are basically unanswerable even if the investigator had ideal nonexperimental data? If so, what are the alternative questions that can be dealt with successfully by empirical social research, and how should they be approached? In the chapters ahead, it will be important to keep in mind this doctrine of the undoable. Of course, one cannot simply mutter ";undoable"; when a difficult obstacle is encountered, turn off the computer, and look in the want ads for a new job-or at least a new task. Instead, it means considering if there is some inherent logical reason or sociological force that makes certain empirical questions unanswerable. There are four types of undoable questions to consider: those that are inherently impossible; those that are premature; those that are overly complicated; and those that empirical and theoretical knowledge have nullified.

Contents:

• pt. 1. Current practices
• pt. 2. Toward a solution.

Notes:

• Description based upon print version of record.
• Includes bibliographical references (p. 245-251) and index.
• Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

• 9786612355318
• 9781282355316
• 1282355317
• 9780520908420
• 0520908422

OCLC:

609849959