SCIENCE AND SOCIAL SCIENCE by Malcolm Williams ( 9780415194846 )

Item Details

Title:

SCIENCE AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
AN INTRODUCTION

By:

Malcolm Williams

Format:

Hardback

List price:

£175.00

Our price:

£157.50

Discount:

10% off

You save:

£17.50

ISBN 10:

0415194849

ISBN 13:

9780415194846

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Publisher:

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Pub. date:

14 October, 1999

Pages:

192

Description:

Will help students of social sciences understand how the disciplines evolved, and why and where the models of natural science started being used to help inform the study of society and social behaviour.

Synopsis:

Is social science really a science at all, and if so in what sense? This is the first question that any course on the philosophy of the social sciences must tackle. In this brief introduction, Malcolm Williams gives students the grounding that will enable them to discuss the issues involved with confidence. He looks at: * The historical development of natural science and its distinctive methodology * the case in favour of an objective science of the social which follows the same rules * The arguments of social constructionists, interpretative sociologists and others against objectivity and even science itself * recent developments in natural science - for instance the rise of complexity theory and the increased questioning of positivism - which bring it closer to some of the key arguments of social science. Throughout, the book is illustrated with short clear examples taken from the actual practice of social science research and from popular works of natural science which will illuminate the debate for all students whatever their background.

Publication:

Imprint:

Routledge

Returns:

Returnable

Some other items by this author:

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL RESEARCH