The elements of social scientific thinking / Kenneth R. Hoover, Todd Donovan.
Publication details: New York : St. Martin's Press, c1995.Edition: 6th edDescription: xii, 201 p. : ill. ; 21 cmISBN:- 0312096437
- 300/.72 20 HOO
| Item type | Current library | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Book Open Access
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Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Library | 300/.72 HOO (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 00096 |
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
Includes bibliographical references and index.
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