The elements of social scientific thinking /
Kenneth R. Hoover, Todd Donovan.
- 6th ed.
- New York : St. Martin's Press, c1995.
- xii, 201 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.
Table of contents
CHAPTER ONE THINKING SCIENTIFICALLY 3
Why bother to be systematic? 6 The role of reasoned judgement and opinion 7 The role of imagination, custom and intuition 9 Questions for discussion 13
CHAPTER TWO THE ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE 17 The origin and utility of concepts 18 What is a variable? 21 Quantification and measurement : Turning concepts into variables 26 Validity and reliability of variables 29 The hypothesis 32 The scientific method 36 The many roles of theory 38 Questions for discussion 45
CHAPTER THREE STRATEGIES 47 Thinking over the problem 49 Reality testing 54 understanding the results 58 Questions for discussion 65
CHAPTER FOUR REFINEMENTS 67 Hypotheses 68 Variables 84 Questions for discussion 89
CHAPTER FIVE MEASURING VARIABLES AND RELATIONSHIPS 91 Measuring variables; Levels of measurement 92 Measuring the significance and representatives of data: Probability, sampling and the problems in polling 98 Measuring relationships between variables: Association and correlation 108 Regression analysis 119 Computers and statistics 131 Questions for discussion 133
CHAPTER SIX REFLECTIONS: BACK TO THE ROOTS 135 Factuality, reality, and actuality 136 Morality and limits of science 141 Of scientists, science, and paradigms 147 making social science serve human needs 150 The radicalism of science 154 Science and politics 155
Appendix A schematic assessments of presidential candidates 159 Appendix b Do black judges make a difference? 179 Index 195