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Developments in the Methodology of Social Science

  • Book
  • © 1974

Overview

Editors:
  1. Werner Leinfellner

    1. Department of Philosophy, University of Nebraska, USA

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  2. Eckehart Köhler

    1. Department of Philosophy, University of Nebraska, USA

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

Part of the book series: Theory and Decision Library (TDLU, volume 6)

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Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-X
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  3. Methods for Laying the Foundations of Social Systems and Social Structures

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 147-147
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    2. Systems of Social Exchange

      • James S. Coleman
      Pages 149-173

    3. The Concept of Social Structure

      • Mario Bunge
      Pages 175-215

    4. Societies and Social Decision Functions

      • Antonio Camacho
      Pages 217-253

    5. Honing Occam’s Razor: A General System Theory Perspective on Social Science Methodology

      • John W. Sutherland
      Pages 255-284

  4. Vagueness, Imprecision and Uncertainty in Social Laws and Forecasts

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 285-285
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    2. Toward Fuzzy Reasoning in the Behavioral Sciences

      • Hans-Werner Gottinger
      Pages 287-308

    3. Evolutionary Laws in the Social Sciences

      • Stephen Gale
      Pages 309-336

    4. Methodological Analysis of Imprecision in the Assessment of Personal Probabilities

      • Raymond H. Burros
      Pages 337-362

    5. The Necessity, Sufficiency and Desirability of Experts as Value Forecasters

      • Gordon Welty
      Pages 363-379

    6. Rational Choice Models and Self-Fulfilling and Self-Defeating Prophecies

      • Bernard Grofman
      Pages 381-383

  5. Methodology of Statistics and Hypothesis Testing

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 385-385
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    2. Statistical Probabilities: Single Case Propensities vs. Long-Run Frequencies

      • James H. Fetzer
      Pages 387-397

    3. Variety of Objects as a Parameter for Experimentation: An Extension of Carnap’s Inductive Logic

      • Eckehart Köhler
      Pages 399-416
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Keywords

About this book

Philosophy of Science deals with the problem, 'What is science?' It seems that the answer to this question can only be found if we have an answer to the question, 'How does science function?' Thus, the study of the methodology of social sciences is a prominent factor in any analysis of these sciences. The history of philosophy shows clearly that the answer to the question, 'How does science function?' was the conditio sine qua non of any kind of philosophy of science, epistemology and even of logic. Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Mill, Russell, to mention a few classical authors, clearly emphasized the primacy of methodology of science for any kind of philosophy of science. One may even state that analyses of the presup­ positions, the foundations, the aims, goals and purposes of science are nothing else than analyses of their general and specific formal, as well as practical and empirical methods. Thus, the whole program of any phi­ losophy of science is dependent on the analysis of the methods of sciences and the establishment of their criteria. If the study of scientific method is the predominant factor in the philosophy of science, then all the other problems will depend on the outcome of such a study. For example, the old question of a possible unity of all social sciences will be brought to a solution by the study of the presuppositions, the methods, as well as of the criteria germane to all social sciences.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, University of Nebraska, USA

    Werner Leinfellner, Eckehart Köhler

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Developments in the Methodology of Social Science

  • Editors: Werner Leinfellner, Eckehart Köhler

  • Series Title: Theory and Decision Library

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-2259-0

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland 1974

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-90-277-0493-1Published: 30 November 1974

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-90-277-0539-6Published: 30 November 1974

  • eBook ISBN: 978-94-010-2259-0Published: 06 December 2012

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: X, 445

  • Topics: Methodology of the Social Sciences

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