The subject of this book is limited to the abstract form or "logic" of science (as applied particularly to scientific sociology). The chief aim is to compress, to simplify, and to organize into an easily understood and reasonably well-documented scheme some principal answers to questions such as: What makes a discipline "scientific" in the first place? What are theories, empirical generalizations, hypotheses, and observations; and how are they related to each other? What is meant by "the scientific method?" What roles do induction and deduction play in science? What are the places of measurement, sampling techniques, descriptive statistics, statistical inference, scale construction, tests of significance, "grand" theories, and "middle-range" theories? What parts are played by our ideas concerning logic, causality, and chance? What is the significance of the rule of parsimony? How do verbal and mathematical languages compare in expressing scientific statements?The intended use of this book goes beyond these abstract questions. The discussion presented here may serve a practical role in the sociology and history of science by providing a framework for reducing the enormous variety of scientific researches--both within a given field and across all fields--to a limited number of interrelated formal elements. Such a framework, it is hoped, may prove useful in assessing empirical relationships between the formal aspects of scientific work and its substantive social, economic, political, and historical aspects.Wallace identifies four ways of generating and testing the truth of empirical statements--"authoritarian," "mystical," "logico-rational," and "scientific," and considers each in depth. As he concludes, "In science (as in æeveryday life'') things must be believed to be seen, as well as seen to be believed; and questions must already be answered a little, if they are to be asked at all." This is a work of synthesis that merits close attention. It provides an area for viewing theory as something more than a review of the history of any single social science discipline.Walter L. Wallace is Professor of Sociology Emeritus at Princeton University. He is also the author of Sociological Theory: An Introduction, and Principles of Scientific Sociology, available from AldineTransaction.
Industry Reviews
-What this mini-book does is put it all together in a brief, but lucid, statement of what the beginning graduate student should know about the state of the art of scientific sociology. . . . [T]his is a worthwhile essay for purposes of review and clarification of the elements of the scientific method for practicing sociologists, and a very valuable guide and overview for graduate students.-
--Betty J. Maynard, Social Forces
-In this extremely compact book, Walter Wallace lays out the ingredients of the scientific enterprise. . . . Though abstract, the book is exceptionally clear. . . [and] an ideal theoretical-methological primer. . . in both theory and research methods.-
--Neil J. Smelser, The American Political Science Association
-I found it a very stimulating book. . . . [I]t is definitely a useful work for the professional's bookshelf.-
--Richard L. Henshel, Contemporary Sociology
-It is the best teaching book I have seen for communicating the accomplishments of social science epistemology.-
--Arthur L. Stinchcombe, American Journal of Sociology "What this mini-book does is put it all together in a brief, but lucid, statement of what the beginning graduate student should know about the state of the art of scientific sociology. . . . [T]his is a worthwhile essay for purposes of review and clarification of the elements of the scientific method for practicing sociologists, and a very valuable guide and overview for graduate students."
--Betty J. Maynard, Social Forces
"In this extremely compact book, Walter Wallace lays out the ingredients of the scientific enterprise. . . . Though abstract, the book is exceptionally clear. . . [and] an ideal theoretical-methological primer. . . in both theory and research methods."
--Neil J. Smelser, The American Political Science Association
"I found it a very stimulating book. . . . [I]t is definitely a useful work for the professional's bookshelf."
--Richard L. Henshel, Contemporary Sociology
"It is the best teaching book I have seen for communicating the accomplishments of social science epistemology."
--Arthur L. Stinchcombe, American Journal of Sociology "What this mini-book does is put it all together in a brief, but lucid, statement of what the beginning graduate student should know about the state of the art of scientific sociology. . . . [T]his is a worthwhile essay for purposes of review and clarification of the elements of the scientific method for practicing sociologists, and a very valuable guide and overview for graduate students."
--Betty J. Maynard, Social Forces
"In this extremely compact book, Walter Wallace lays out the ingredients of the scientific enterprise. . . . Though abstract, the book is exceptionally clear. . . [and] an ideal theoretical-methological primer. . . in both theory and research methods."
--Neil J. Smelser, The American Political Science Association
"I found it a very stimulating book. . . . [I]t is definitely a useful work for the professional's bookshelf."
--Richard L. Henshel, Contemporary Sociology
"It is the best teaching book I have seen for communicating the accomplishments of social science epistemology."
--Arthur L. Stinchcombe, American Journal of Sociology
