most critical philosophy of social science concepts that are relevant to the practice of text mining. We hope to have convinced you that philosophical assumptions and decisions about methodology are interdependent and to have given you the tools to allow you to position your own research project in terms of debates over positivist and postpositivist social science. You should also now be well equipped to recognize the types of logical inferences that are possible in different approaches to text mining and text analysis research.
Key Terms
Abduction 51
analysis of variance (ANOVA) 50
Coherence theory 44
Constructionism 45
Correspondence theory 44
Critical realism 45
Data mining 48
Deduction 51
Epistemology 41
Grand theory 46
Grounded theory 48
Hypotheses 49
Induction 47
Inference 48
Inference to the best explanation 51
Meso theory 46
Metatheory 41
Ontology 41
Philosophy of social science 41
Pragmatism 45
Regression (multiple regression) 50
Scientific method 49
Substantive theory 47
Theoretical models 47
Highlights
Different approaches to text mining and text analysis research are premised on different epistemological and ontological positions.
Theory plays fundamentally different roles in different approaches to social science research.
Text mining and text analysis research involves making inductive, deductive, and/or abductive inferences.
Discussion Questions
What do social scientists mean by “constructionism”?
What is inferential logic, and why do social scientists spend time thinking about it?
What are limitations of deductive reasoning in social science research?
What are problems with abductive reasoning in social science research?
What risks are associated with purely inductive approaches to social science research?
What is the definition of ontology? Can you give examples of contexts in which epistemology would be important in social science research?
In what ways can metatheory stimulate problem solving by researchers?
What is the definition of epistemology? Can you give examples of contexts in which epistemology would be important in social science research?
Internet Resources
The journal Philosophy of the Social Sciences (http://pos.sagepub.com)
Developing a Research Proposal
Do you favor positivism or postpositivism as a guide for your research? Explain your position.
What types of theories will you use in your research project? Consider the role of theory in your research in light of how theory is used in published research in your area.
Further Reading
Reed, I. (2011). Interpretation and social knowledge. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Rosenberg, A. (2012). Philosophy of social science. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
Snow, C. P. (2013). The two cultures and the scientific revolution. London, England: Martino Fine Books. (Original work published 1959)
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