Philosophy, Science, and Social Inquiry: Contemporary Methodological Controversies in Social Science and Related Applied Fields of Research

by D.C. Phillips

Book Overview

A lucid and lively exposition and critique of contemporary debates about the scientific standing of the research enterprise in the social sciences and related applied fields such as educational and nursing research. The book is organized into three main parts, the first section containing an exposition of the relevant developments in philosophy against which the practice of research in the social sciences and applied fields must be seen -- the work...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0080334113
• ISBN13: 9780080334110
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Pergamon
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

clearly written, good introduction

As the subtitle says, this book is about "methodological controversies". It is about what counts as conclusive research and why. The book comprises three parts: Part A on Recent Philosophical Developments (recent relatvie to 1987); Part B on Misunderstandings and Misinferences; and Part C on the Evaluation of a Field of Theory and Reseatch, in which Phillips takes his points from Parts A and B and applies them to a particular field of social science -- people's cognitive development -- for illustration.Phillips describes his own theme as "a mild Popperianism and naturalism: Knowledge progresses not by the absolute establishment of conclusions, but by the exposing of conjectures... to criticism.... However, not even this process yields certainty.... Progress follows a tentative and meandering course" (p. 116).He provides a good overview of main points in the philosophy of science -- that is, "the understanding of the nature of science" (p. 5) -- in the 20th century. Researchers who are new to the idea of "philosophy of science" and unfamiliar with the big names in the field would do well to start here for a grasp. If you're conducting scientific resarch, it's a good idea to know why you're doing it the way you're doing it, and what logical foundation your conclusions stand on. They might not be what you assume.Yes, this is abstract and advanced writing. Yes, it has sentences you could quote to make fun of how philosophers seem not to have a life. But if you take science very seriously, then you need to think about some of these ideas, and you'd rather read this book than lots of others. The writing is clear. The volume is not overwhelming. My only real complaint is the particular topic Phillips chose for his "case study" to illustrate how the methodological principles and controversies apply to a particular area. He chose as a research area the study of people's cognitive development, "...what happens in the mind of a developing learner as he or she tries to master some body of knowledge." The topic is almost circular with the philosophical material itself, and it becomes at times difficult to untangle the statements about methodology and scientific principle from statements about people's reasoning. A different case study might have been clearer, at least to me. Then again, maybe any topic would have similar difficulties. On the plus side, anyone working in the area of cognitive development will probably particularly appreciate this choice of topics.Overall, recommended for producers or direct consumers of social science research.