Making Social Science Matter: Why Social Inquiry Fails and How it Can Succeed AgainMaking Social Science Matter presents an exciting new approach to social science, including theoretical argument, methodological guidelines, and examples of practical application. Why has social science failed in attempts to emulate natural science and produce normal theory? Bent Flyvbjerg argues that the strength of social science is in its rich, reflexive analysis of values and power, essential to the social and economic development of any society. Richly informed, powerfully argued, and clearly written, this book provides essential reading for all those in the social and behavioural sciences. |
Contents
The Science Wars a way out | 1 |
Rationality body and intuition in human learning | 9 |
Is theory possible in social science? | 25 |
Context counts | 38 |
Values in social and political inquiry | 53 |
The power of example | 66 |
The significance of conflict and power to social science | 88 |
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Making Social Science Matter: Why Social Inquiry Fails and How it Can ... Bent Flyvbjerg Limited preview - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
Aalborg Aalborg Project according achieve action activity actual analysis answer approach argument Aristotle asked attempts basic basis become Books Bourdieu calls Cambridge central chapter Chicago communicative concept concerns concrete constitutes context critical defined democracy described discourse discussion domination Dreyfus effective elements emphasis episteme ethics example exist experience explain fact Genealogy given goal groups Habermas Habermas's History human ideal important individual institutions interests interpretation interview intuition kind knowledge learning means method Michel Foucault moral narrative natural sciences Nietzsche objects particular performance philosophy phronesis phronetic research planning political possible practical predictive present problem produce question rationality reality reason relations Richard rules says scientific seen sense situation skills social science society Socrates structure theoretical theory things thinking thought tion truth understanding University Press values virtue York