The Conduct of Inquiry: Methodology for Behavioural Science

by Abraham Kaplan

In arguably the finest text ever written in the philosophy of social science, Abraham Kaplan emphasizes what unites the behavioral sciences more than what distinguishes them from one another. Kaplan avoids the bitter disputes among people doing methodology, claiming instead that what is important are those qualities intrinsic to the overall aspirations of the social sciences. He deals with special problems of various disciplines only so far as may be helpful in clarifying the general method of inquiry. The Conduct of Inquiry is a systematic, rounded, and wide-ranging inquiry into behavioral science. Kaplan is guided by the experience of sciences with longer histories, but he is bound neither to their problems nor to their solutions. Instead, he addresses the methodology of behavioral science in the broad sense of both method and science. The work is not a formal exercise in the philosophy of science but rather a critical and constructive assessment of the developing standards and strategies of contemporary social inquiry. He emphasizes the tasks, achievements, limitations, and dilemmas of the newer disciplines. Philosophers of science usually choose to write about the most fully developed sciences because problems are clearer there. The result is ordinarily of little benefit to the behavioral scientist, whose task is clarification of method; here the precedents and analogies of physical science are obscure or inappropriate. The Conduct of Inquiry goes a long way in drawing upon the strengths of social research insights without simplifying the common concerns of the scientific enterprise as a whole. As Leonard Broom noted when the book initially "Kaplan fills a gap and does so with admirable clarity and often engaging wit. It lacks pomposity, pedantry, and pretension, and it is bound to make an impact on the teaching of and, with luck, research in the behavioral sciences."

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Psychology

Paperback

First published June 1, 1968

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In graduate school, I had the 1964 version of this book assigned in my research methods course. This was the book, then, that introduced me to the philosophy of science. I rather liked its bias toward emphasizing what researchers try to do rather than what philosophers "think" that they should do. My colleagues and I also appreciated his emphasis on the "autonomy of inquiry, (Page 3) ". . .the principle that the pursuit of truth is accountable to nothing and to no one not a part of that pursuit itself."

The book is, for a work on philosophy of science, lucidly written. Even after the passage of decades, it still reads pretty well.

[Kasper]

This is a unique book on science and methodology. In places it is profound and invites you to think about topics for hours or days. In other places it is very difficult to follow and comes across as opaque. Rewarding but un-rateable, and definitively not an introduction to the topic but rather an advanced treatise to be engaged with over years.

[Multatulibalasbudi]

I need to add my reference, couse Im a lecture

[Kyle]

Kyle

[Jim Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Textbook used in an undergraduate methods class I took at Michigan State taught by Clyde Morris.

[Mohammad]

i want to print and read these book