Chapter 3: Objectivity and Values

Question 1

Max Weber on facts and values (3)

Answer 1

1. distinction between facts and values
2. value-neutrality is not possible in social sciences
3. must strive for value-neutrality nonetheless

Question 2

Ernest Nagel (2)

Answer 2

1. researchers focus on subjects meaningful to them, not a threat to the logic of inquiry
2. abandon the pretense that they are free from bias, state value assumptions explicitly and fully

Question 3

Rosenthal Effect

Answer 3

researchers own expectations influence the behaviour of the subjects, therefore the outcome of the research

Question 4

Going native

Answer 4

researcher’s interaction with the subject of inquiry such as an individ or a group created bias towards the subject

Question 5

Heisenberg Effect

Answer 5

subject’ behaviour changes because they know they are being observed

Question 6

self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer 6

the results of the study alter reality

Question 7

what is a paradigm

Answer 7

a conceptual scheme, about which a community of scholars agree and which defines the objects of investigation and the ways in which they are to be investigated

Question 8

what did Kuhn believe about knowledge?

Answer 8

that knowledge is not a logical but a social process. science is social, it consists of a community with a common view. the common view is the paradigm

Question 9

Kuhn vs. Popper

Answer 9

Kuhn argued that Popper had an idealized version of true science - instead of unrelenting criticism and testing, science had tended towards paradigmetics conformity and conservatism

Question 10

What did Kuhn write in 1962

Answer 10

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Question 11

What is the scientific revolution (5)

Answer 11

1. malfunction leads to crisis
2. loosening of rules as basic institutions are rejected
3. competing camps : there are those who seek to defend the old order vs those who seek to institute the new
   4.competing camps seek support by resorting to techniques of mass persuasion
4. scientists transfer loyalties to new paradigm and this inaugurates a new era of normal science

Question 12

Thomas Kuhn cycle of revolution (10)

Answer 12

pre-science (paradigm estab) normal science (anomalies build) crisis (competition among contending candidates) revolution (1 contender gains ascendancy over others) new paradigm (generates new) normal science

Question 13

Imre Lakatos 1970

Answer 13

Falsification and the methodology of scientific research programs, rejects Kuhn’s model of scientific progress

Question 14

Imre vs. Kuhn

Answer 14

Kuhn’s model = relativistic, reduces science to mob-psychology, no normal science, always alternative competing theories

Question 15

Imre Lakatos scientific research programme (2)

Answer 15

hard core - general hypotheses, basic axioms that remain constant and are accepted
protective belt - specific falsifiable theories or auxiliary hypotheses based on hard core
The hard core of a research programme consists of very general hypotheses. It is a
‘hard’ core because of its protective belt of auxiliary assumptions. The negative heuristic of a research programme is a convention or methodological rule that stipulates that
scientists should not question the hard core of the programme, that they should not
modify or abandon it, and should avoid paths of research that bear directly on it

Question 16

negative heuristic

Answer 16

The stipulation that the hard core of the programme not be abandoned or modified.

Question 17

positive heuristic

Answer 17

instructions as to how to adjust the theories and auxiliary hypotheses in the protective belt in the face of an anomaly

Question 18

anomaly

Answer 18

departure from what is expected or predicted in a specific set of circumstances

Question 19

progressive research programme

Answer 19

when adjustments to the protective belt predict unexpected facts, the research prog is theoretically progressive, it is empirically progressive if some of the predictions are corroborated

Question 20

degenerating research programme

Answer 20

when adjustment to the protective belt are made that fail to explain and corroborate new facts

Question 21

draw the Kuhn scientific revolution cycle

Question 22

draw the Lakatos scientific research programme scheme

Question 23

Is political research value free?

Question 24

To what extent, and in what ways, do ‘values’ present problems for political analysis?