Social Science Methodology: A Criterial FrameworkCambridge University Press, 2001 M09 10 - 300 pages This book offers a one-volume introduction to social science methodology, relevant to the disciplines of anthropology, economics, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. It is written for beginning students, long-time practitioners and methodologists, and applies to work conducted in qualitative and quantitative styles. It synthesizes the vast and diverse field of methodology in a way that is clear, concise, and comprehensive. While offering a handy overview of the subject, the book is also an argument about how we should conceptualize methodological problems. Tasks and criteria, the author argues-not fixed rules of procedure-best describe the search for methodological adequacy. Thinking about methodology through this lens provides a new framework for understanding work in the social sciences. |
Contents
The Problem of Unity Amid Diversity | 1 |
A Criterial Framework | 19 |
Concepts | 33 |
Concepts General Criteria | 35 |
Strategies of Definition | 65 |
Propositions | 87 |
Propositions General Criteria | 89 |
Description and Prediction | 118 |
Research Design | 153 |
Research Design General Criteria | 155 |
Methods | 200 |
Strategies of Research Design | 230 |
Justifications | 244 |
| 259 | |
| 293 | |
Causation | 128 |
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Common terms and phrases
analysis analytic utility approach argue attributes behavior breadth broader Cambridge causal argument causal inference causal relationship cause ceteris paribus Chapter coherence Collier comparability concept formation confirmatory Consider context contextual range corporatism counterfactual criteria criterial framework criterion cultural debate define democracy descriptive desiderata diachronic differentiation discussed Duverger's law effect empirical ence evidence example experimental explain field French Revolution human hypothesis ideology important interest interpretivism large-N logic lumping and splitting matter mean method methodological min-max minimal definition most-different most-similar natural sciences normative observe operationalization ordinary language outcome parsimony particular perhaps phenomena philosophy of science Political Science Popper population possible poststructuralism precision predictive problem proposition question Ragin reason refer relevant research design revolution sample Sartori semantic sense single small-N social sci social science social science methodology social scientists sort specific statistical Table theoretical theory things tion University Press usage variables variation within-case words writers