Making It Count: The Improvement of Social Research and TheoryThis 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. |
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Making it Count: The Improvement of Social Research and Theory Stanley Lieberson Limited preview - 1985 |
Making It Count: The Improvement of Social Research and Theory Stanley Lieberson Limited preview - 1985 |
Common terms and phrases
actually affect altered analysis answer appear applied approach appropriate assignment association assume assumption basic blacks causal causes certain changes chapter characteristics circumstances cities closer comparisons conclusion consequences consider control variable correct deal dependent variable determine develop direction earlier empirical example exist expect experiment experimental explain fact factors follow forces given groups important income increase independent influence initial interest involves irreversible issue knowledge lead least less linkage matter means measurement nature observed occur operating opposite outcome parents population possible present principles probably problem procedures proposition question random reasonable relationship respect reversible schools selectivity shift simply situation social research society specific statistical superficial taken theoretical theory tion true turn understanding United variation
Bibliographic information
| Title | Making It Count: The Improvement of Social Research and Theory |
| Author | Stanley Lieberson |
| Publisher | University of California Press, 1987 |
| ISBN | 0520908422, 9780520908420 |
| Length | 272 pages |
| Subjects | › › Social Science / Sociology / General |
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