FULL SUMMARY. In their book, Moses and Knutsen provide a comprehensive overview of current and previous debates in the methodologies of social and political sciences - both from a philosophical as well as a more practical point of view.
Methodologies
are
not
the
same
as
methods.
Methods
are
tools,
and
methodologies
are
well-‐equipped
toolboxes
–
once
a
methodology
has
been
chosen,
the
choice
of
methods
becomes
merely
a
tactical
matter.
Sometimes,
different
methodologies
use
the
same
methods
for
different
purposes.
Ontology:
the
study
of
being.
What
is
the
world
really
made
of?
Epistemology:
the
(philosophical)
study
of
knowledge.
What
is
knowledge?
Methodology:
the
study
of
the
way
in
which
we
acquire
knowledge.
How
do
we
know?
(applied
epistemology)
sometimes
wrongfully
used
as
a
fancy
word
for
‘method’
*
method
=
research
techniques
or
technical
procedures
of
a
discipline
*
methodology
=
investigation
of
the
concepts,
theories
and
basic
principles
of
reasoning
on
a
subject
Marsh
&
Furlong:
‘Ontology
and
epistemologies
are
skins,
not
sweaters.’
Moses
&
Knutsen:
Ontology
and
epistemology
are
jackets
that
you
can
change,
depending
on
your
purpose
and
question
under
study.
It
is
actually
better
if
researchers
master
several
methods
and
methodologies,
so
they
can
consciously
choose.
The
world
can
be
perceived
in
different
and
contrasting
ways
and
Moses
&
Knutsen
advocate
a
pluralistic
approach
to
knowledge.
NATURALISM
Six
principle
features
of
naturalism:
1. Regularities
and
patterns
exist
in
an
independent
Real
World.
2. These
patterns
can
be
experienced/observed
directly
and
described
objectively.
3. Statements
can
be
tested
based
on
the
falsification
principle
and
correspondence
theory
of
truth.
4. There
is
a
distinction
between
value-‐laden
and
factual
statements.
5. The
aim
of
science
is
general/nomothetic
at
the
expense
of
the
particular/idiographic.
6. Human
knowledge
is
singular
and
cumulative.
3
, CONSTRUCTIVISM
Six
principles
of
constructivism:
1. The
world
is
not
independent
–
it
includes
social
facts.
2. Observations
depend
on
the
perspective
of
the
observer.
3. Observational
statements
may
contain
bias.
4. Even
factual
statements
are
value
laden.
5. Idiographic
knowledge
has
value
in
its
own
right.
6. There
is
value
in
understanding,
and
there
are
more
than
one
ways
to
understand.
Bottom
line
of
differences
with
naturalism:
the
recognition
that
people
are
intelligent,
reflective
and
willful,
and
that
these
characteristics
matter
for
how
we
understand
the
world.
There
is
a
possibility
of
multiple
worlds/experiences.
Don’t
think
that
constructivists
are
all
relativists
–
there
can
be
better
and
worse
constructivist
accounts.
Rather:
constructivists
are
more
hesitant
to
claim
truth
as
their
own.
SCIENTIFIC
REALISM
Blends
some
of
the
most
attractive
features
of
both
naturalist
and
constructivist
approaches.
In
ontology:
closest
to
naturalism
(but
agree
with
Weber:
man
is
an
animal
suspended
in
webs
of
meaning
he
himself
has
spun).
Many
layers,
but
a
Real
World
nonetheless
(ontology:
world
on
top
of
a
tiger
on
an
elephant
on
infinite
turtles).
The
best
way
to
access
these
layers
is
through
naturalist
approaches.
Ian
Shapiro:
the
core
commitment
of
scientific
realism
is
the
twofold
conviction
that
the
world
consists
of
causal
mechanisms
that
exist
independently
of
our
study
–
or
even
awareness
–
of
them,
and
that
the
methods
of
science
hold
the
best
possibility
of
our
grasping
their
true
character.
BUT:
there
are
no
universal
laws
there
can
be
no
neutrality
of
scientist
or
language.
Moses
&
Knutsen
identify
with
scientific
realism.
Good
science
should
be
driven
by
questions,
not
methods
–
methods
should
be
tailored
to
the
problems.
à
Where
they
differ
with
scientific
realism:
they
don’t
want
to
be
a
universal
ap-‐
proach,
but
want
methodological
pluralism.
4
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller reneehunter93. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.52. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
