社会科学をより科学的に：方法論再考 Making Social Sciences More Scientific : The Need for Predictive Models

Taagepera, Rein

Oxford University Press（2008/07発売）

• 製本 Hardcover:ハードカバー版／ページ数 264 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9780199534661
• DDC分類 300.72

基本説明

Provocative re-examination of the social science methodology.

Full Description

In his challenging new book Rein Taagepera argues that society needs more from social sciences than they have delivered. One reason for falling short is that social sciences have depended excessively on regression and other statistical approaches, neglecting logical model building. Science is not only about the empirical 'What is?' but also very much about the conceptual 'How should it be on logical grounds?' Statistical approaches are essentially descriptive, while quantitatively formulated logical models are predictive in an explanatory way. Why Social Sciences Are Not Scientific Enough contrasts the predominance of statistics in today's social sciences and predominance of quantitatively predictive logical models in physics. It shows how to construct predictive models and gives social science examples. Why Social Sciences Are Not Scientific Enough is useful to students who wish to learn the basics of the scientific method and to all those researchers who look for ways to do better social science.

Contents

PART I. THE LIMITATIONS OF DESCRIPTIVE METHODOLOGY; PART II. QUANTITATIVELY PREDICTIVE LOGICAL MODELS; PART III. SYNTHESIS OF PREDICTIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE APPROACHES