Methodology for the Human Sciences: Systems of InquirySUNY Press, 1983 M01 1 - 349 pages Methodology for the Human Sciences addresses the growing need for a comprehensive textbook that surveys the emerging body of literature on human science research and clearly describes procedures and methods for carrying out new research strategies. It provides an overview of developing methods, describes their commonalities and variations, and contains practical information on how to implement strategies in the field. In it, Donald Polkinghorne calls for a renewal of debate over which methods are appropriate for the study of human beings, proposing that the results of the extensive changes in the philosophy of science since 1960 call for a reexamination of the original issues of this debate. The book traces the history of the deliberations from Mill and Dilthey to Hempel and logical positivism, examines recently developed systems of inquiry and their importance for the human sciences, and relates these systems to the practical problems of doing research on topics related to human experience. It discusses historical realism, systems and structures, phenomenology and hermeneutics, action theory, and the implications recent systems have for a revised human science methodology. |
From inside the book
Page 1
... understanding of scientific study of the human realm . The positivist conception of science has its roots in a definition of knowledge which holds that only those things of which we are absolutely certain can be counted as knowledge ...
... understanding of scientific study of the human realm . The positivist conception of science has its roots in a definition of knowledge which holds that only those things of which we are absolutely certain can be counted as knowledge ...
Page 2
... understanding of science calls for a reassessment of human science methodology and the adjustments it has made in order to conform to the demands of positivist science . The purpose of this book is to contribute to such a reassessment ...
... understanding of science calls for a reassessment of human science methodology and the adjustments it has made in order to conform to the demands of positivist science . The purpose of this book is to contribute to such a reassessment ...
Page 3
... understanding is deeper , fuller , and more useful than the previous understanding . Such an understanding of methodology means that it is not enough to know the recipe for carrying out a research design . It also means that methods ...
... understanding is deeper , fuller , and more useful than the previous understanding . Such an understanding of methodology means that it is not enough to know the recipe for carrying out a research design . It also means that methods ...
Page 4
... understanding of the nature of knowledge . It is such an understanding that is the base from which the researcher works , since postpositivism has cleared methodology of prescibed rules and boundaries . The acceptance of a knowledge ...
... understanding of the nature of knowledge . It is such an understanding that is the base from which the researcher works , since postpositivism has cleared methodology of prescibed rules and boundaries . The acceptance of a knowledge ...
Page 5
... understanding of phenomena can be obtained . In the human sciences , the phenomena are , of course , human phenomena . The study of methods , however , is concerned with particular procedures for research . In this book , the emphasis ...
... understanding of phenomena can be obtained . In the human sciences , the phenomena are , of course , human phenomena . The study of methods , however , is concerned with particular procedures for research . In this book , the emphasis ...
Contents
The Original Debate | 15 |
Positivism | 16 |
The AntiPositivist Response | 20 |
The Recurring Debate | 51 |
Summary | 56 |
The Received View of Science | 59 |
The Vienna Circle | 60 |
Theoretical Networks | 71 |
Causal Explanations | 173 |
Acausal Explanations | 183 |
Linguistic Accounts | 192 |
Practical Reasoning | 195 |
ExistentialPhenomenological and Hermeneutic Systems | 201 |
The ExistentialPhenomenological System of Inquiry | 203 |
Hermeneutics Interpretation | 215 |
Interpretation and the Human Sciences | 237 |
The Human Sciences and the Deductive System of Inquiry | 87 |
Pragmatic Science | 93 |
Criticism of the Received View | 94 |
Sciences as Expressions of Various World Outlooks | 103 |
Historical Realism | 116 |
Systems and Structures | 135 |
Structuralism and Human Systems | 152 |
Systems Inquiry and Methodology | 166 |
Human Action | 169 |
The Nature of Human Action | 170 |
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Common terms and phrases
activity analysis apodictic approach argument basic behavior believed Cambridge causal certainty Chicago concept consciousness context cultural deductive system described developed discourse empirical empiricism example experience explanation expressions function Hempel hermeneutic historical human action human phenomena human realm human science Humanistic Psychology Husserl hypothesis Ibid individual inductive inference interaction interpretation investigation Jürgen Habermas kind knowledge claims language game laws linguistic logical positivism logical positivists meaning mental events method methodology notion objects observation organizing particular patterns Paul Paul Ricoeur Peirce perception person Phenomenological Philosophy of Science physical sciences position positivists postpositivist problem proposed Psychology question rational reality received view refer relationship reprinted Ricoeur scientific scientists sensation sense data Social Science statements Stephen Toulmin structures systems of inquiry teleological theory trans translated truth understanding University Press valid various Vienna circle whole Wilhelm Dilthey Wittgenstein words York