The Uses and Misuses of Data and Models: The Mathematization of the Human Sciences - Softcover

Bradley, W . James; Schaefer, Kurt

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0761909222 ISBN 13: 9780761909224

Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc, 1998

Synopsis

Undeniably, the amount of "human information" in our culture has increased by leaps and bounds. How that information is used has profound implications on the way we live as a society. At the same time, the discussion of values, norms, and purpose is often missing from the discourse of social research especially by those who work within the positivist framework. Authors James Bradley and Kurt Schaefer develop principles to guide the use of data and models in the human sciences. Writing as scholars who are at home with empirical and mathematical social science, yet taking seriously the critiques of this heritage, the authors propose ways of developing norms without becoming radically subjective. The Uses and Misuses of Data and Models argues eloquently that norms, values, and purpose need to become part of the common discourse of researchers, with more ethical and socially responsible research the result. The Uses and Misuses of Data and Models is an intriguing and thought-provoking book that will be of great interest to anyone involved in the enterprise of social research.

About this title

Synopsis

Bradley and Schaefer avoid a radically subje ctive approach to the use of data and models in the analysis of information in the human sciences. They show how norms, values and purpose can and should be part of the discourse o f all researchers in the field. '

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0761909222
• ISBN 13: 9780761909224
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224