Does Speculation Belong in Social Science Research?

Autor/in	Swedberg, Richard
Titel	Does Speculation Belong in Social Science Research?
Quelle	In: Sociological Methods & Research, 50 (2021) 1, S.45-74 (30 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0049-1241
DOI	10.1177/0049124118769092
Schlagwörter	Social Science Research; Cognitive Processes; Philosophy; Natural Sciences; Scientific Concepts + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Social scientific research; Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess; Philosophie; Naturwissenschaften
Abstract	This article addresses the following question: Can speculation be used in social science research or should this not be an option? The secondary literature on speculation, which is minimal, is presented and discussed. It is noted that natural scientists often differentiate between a scientific form of speculation and the old metaphysical form of speculation. Following the lead of Charles Lave and James March in "An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences," close attention is also paid to the kind of speculation that is part of ordinary research, as opposed to the extraordinary type of speculation that can be found in the work of geniuses like Newton or Galileo. An attempt is then made to outline situations in which it is not only helpful but also necessary to speculate in social science. It is concluded that speculation is an important tool for social scientists if used with caution. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01