In social sciences, building and testing theory is particularly difficult

in social-science •  7 years ago 

In social sciences, building and testing theory is particularly difficult

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Given the loose idea of the theoretical concepts, insufficient devices to measure them, and the nearness of numerous unaccounted factors that can likewise impact the phenomenon of interest are what makes these theories troublesome. It is additionally exceptionally hard to invalidate theories that don't work.

For example, Karl Marx's hypothesis of communism as a successful methods for economic production withstood for a considerable length of time, before it was at long last defamed as being second rate compared to capitalism in advancing economic development and social welfare. Erstwhile comrade economies like the Soviet Union and China in the end advanced toward more capitalistic economies described by benefit amplifying private endeavors.

In any case, the current crumple of the home loan and money related industries in the United States exhibits that capitalism likewise is imperfect and isn't as compelling in encouraging economic development and social welfare as already assumed. Not at all like theories in the natural sciences, social science theories are once in a while consummate, which gives various chances to researchers to enhance those theories or manufacture their own elective theories.

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Required skills in leading scientific research

  • Theoretical (Know-how)
  • Methodological (Know-what)

Methodological skills are moderately standard, invariant crosswise over disciplines, and effortlessly procured through doctoral programs. In any case, theoretical skills is significantly harder to ace, requires a very long time of perception and reflection, and are unsaid skills that can't be instructed but instead adapted however understanding.

The greater part of the greatest scientists ever, for example, Galileo, Newton, Einstein, Neils Bohr, Adam Smith, Charles Darwin, and Herbert Simon, were ace theoreticians, and they are associated with the theories they hypothesized that changed the course of science. Methodological skills are should have been a common researcher, however theoretical skills are should have been a phenomenal researcher!

What is scientific method?


Scientific method alludes to an institutionalized arrangement of strategies for building scientific knowledge, for example, how to mention substantial objective facts, how to translate results, and how to sum up those outcomes. The scientific method enables researchers to autonomously and unbiasedly test previous theories and earlier discoveries, and subject them to open level headed discussion, changes, or improvements.

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4 Characteristics of a scientific methods

  • Logical
  • Confirmable
  • Repeatable
  • Scrutinizable

Any branch of request that does not enable the scientific method to test its fundamental laws or theories can't be called science. For example, theology isn't science in light of the fact that theological thoughts can't be tested by free eyewitnesses utilizing a logical, confirmable, repeatable, and scrutinizable. Essentially, music, craftsmanship, humanities, written works, and law are additionally not thought about science, despite the fact that they are innovative and beneficial undertakings in their own particular right.

The scientific method, as connected to social sciences, incorporates an assortment of research methodologies, apparatuses, and systems, for gathering and breaking down subjective or quantitative information. These methods incorporate lab tests, field studies, case research, ethnographic research, action research.

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References:
Scientific method
Difference between theory testing and theory building
Theory testing research

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Great review of how the scientific method works, however science and scientific theory, no matter how based in common sense, are often more complicated than this article suggest.

You have a point. Theories are still theories and not reality.

Good review.