Applying Social Science: The Role of Social Research in Politics, Policy and Practice

ISBN-13: 9781847424501 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 240 str.

David Byrne

Opis

In complex societies social science has become increasingly interwoven into the whole fabric of governance. This book draws on a synthesis of critical realism and complexity theory to examine how social science is applied and how it might be applied in the future in relation to social transformation in a time of crisis.

Spis treści

Contents: The methodological foundations of applied social science; Constructing evidence: the development of knowledge which is to be applied; Surveying the social world: assembling knowledge as a basis for action; Evaluating: the role of social science in the establishment of effectiveness and outcomes; Legitimating: the selective use of social science in justifying policy and practice; Consulting: the role of social science in 'participatory' post-democratic politics; Modeling: the use of social science in predicting the future consequences of present actions; Acting: the role of social science in action-research; The Applied Social Sciences and the Academy; Conclusion: Where now?