aifig3-1

Table 3.1.
Comparison of Logical Empiricist and Socio-Rationalist
Conceptions of Social Science

Dimension for Comparison Logical Empiricism Socio-Rationalism

01. Primary Function of Science Enhance goals of understanding, prediction, and control by discerning general laws or principles governing the relationship among units of observable phenomena. Enhance understanding in the sense of assigning meaning to something, thus creating its status through the use of concepts. Science is a means for expanding flexibility and choice in cultural evolution.

02. Theory of Knowledge and Mind Exogenic—grants priority to the external world in the generation of human knowledge (i.e., the preeminence of objective fact). Mind is a mirror. Endogenic—holds the processes of mind and symbolic interaction as preeminent source of human knowledge. Mind is both a mirror and a lamp.

03. Perspective on Time Assumption of temporal irrelevance: searches for transhistorical principles. Assumption of hstorically and contextually relevant meanings; existing regularities in social order are contingent on prevailing meaning systems.

04. Assuming Stability of Social Patterns Social phenomena are sufficiently stable, enduring, reliable and replicable to allow for lawful principles. Social order is fundamentally unstable. Social phenomena are guided by cognitive heuristics, limited only by the human imagination: the social order is a subject matter capable of infinite variation through the linkage ofideas and action.

05. Value Stance Separation of fact and values. Possibility of objective knowledge through behavioral observation. Social sciences are fundamentally nonobjective. Any behavioral event is open to virtually any interpretative explanation. All interpretation is filtered through prevailing values of a culture. “There is no description without prescription.”

06. Features of “Good” Theory Discovery of transhistorically valid principles; a theory’s correspondence with face. Degree to which theory furnishes alternatives for social innovation and thereby opens vistas for action; expansion of “the realm of the possible.”

07. Criteria for Confirmation or Verification (Life of a Theory) Logical consistency and empirical prediction; subject to falsification. Persuasive appeal, impace, and overall generative capacity; subject to community agreement; truth is a product of a community of truth makers.

08. Role of Scientist Impartial bystander and dispassionate spectator of the inevitable; content to accept that which seems given. Active agent and coparticipant who is primarily a source of linguistic activity (theoretical language) which serves as input into common meaning systems. Interested in “breaking the hammerlock” of what appears as given in human nature.

09. Chief Product of Research Cumulation of objective knowledge through the production of empiracally disconfirmable hypothesis. Continued improvement in theory building capacity; improvement in the capacity to create generative-theoretical language.

10. Emphasis in the Education of Future Social Science Professionals Rigorous experimental methods and statistical analysis; a premium is placed on method (training in theory construction is a rarity). Hermenuetic interpretation and catalytic theorizing; a premium is placed on the theoretical imagination. Sociorationalism invites the student toward intellectual expression in the service of his or her vision of the good.

Referring document: http://www.stipes.com/aichap3.htm
Home page: http://www.stipes.com
Reprinted with permission from: Appreciative Inquiry: An Emerging Direction for Organization Development, David L. Cooperrider, Peter F. Sorensen, Jr., Therese F. Yaeger, and Diana Whitney, editors.
Champaign IL: Stipes Publishing L.L.C., 2001. Copyright 2001 by Stipes Publishing L.L.C.
Posted: 9/20/01

Dimension for Comparison	Logical Empiricism	Socio-Rationalism
01. Primary Function of Science	Enhance goals of understanding, prediction, and control by discerning general laws or principles governing the relationship among units of observable phenomena.	Enhance understanding in the sense of assigning meaning to something, thus creating its status through the use of concepts. Science is a means for expanding flexibility and choice in cultural evolution.
02. Theory of Knowledge and Mind	Exogenic—grants priority to the external world in the generation of human knowledge (i.e., the preeminence of objective fact). Mind is a mirror.	Endogenic—holds the processes of mind and symbolic interaction as preeminent source of human knowledge. Mind is both a mirror and a lamp.
03. Perspective on Time	Assumption of temporal irrelevance: searches for transhistorical principles.	Assumption of hstorically and contextually relevant meanings; existing regularities in social order are contingent on prevailing meaning systems.
04. Assuming Stability of Social Patterns	Social phenomena are sufficiently stable, enduring, reliable and replicable to allow for lawful principles.	Social order is fundamentally unstable. Social phenomena are guided by cognitive heuristics, limited only by the human imagination: the social order is a subject matter capable of infinite variation through the linkage ofideas and action.
05. Value Stance	Separation of fact and values. Possibility of objective knowledge through behavioral observation.	Social sciences are fundamentally nonobjective. Any behavioral event is open to virtually any interpretative explanation. All interpretation is filtered through prevailing values of a culture. “There is no description without prescription.”
06. Features of “Good” Theory	Discovery of transhistorically valid principles; a theory’s correspondence with face.	Degree to which theory furnishes alternatives for social innovation and thereby opens vistas for action; expansion of “the realm of the possible.”
07. Criteria for Confirmation or Verification (Life of a Theory)	Logical consistency and empirical prediction; subject to falsification.	Persuasive appeal, impace, and overall generative capacity; subject to community agreement; truth is a product of a community of truth makers.
08. Role of Scientist	Impartial bystander and dispassionate spectator of the inevitable; content to accept that which seems given.	Active agent and coparticipant who is primarily a source of linguistic activity (theoretical language) which serves as input into common meaning systems. Interested in “breaking the hammerlock” of what appears as given in human nature.
09. Chief Product of Research	Cumulation of objective knowledge through the production of empiracally disconfirmable hypothesis.	Continued improvement in theory building capacity; improvement in the capacity to create generative-theoretical language.
10. Emphasis in the Education of Future Social Science Professionals	Rigorous experimental methods and statistical analysis; a premium is placed on method (training in theory construction is a rarity).	Hermenuetic interpretation and catalytic theorizing; a premium is placed on the theoretical imagination. Sociorationalism invites the student toward intellectual expression in the service of his or her vision of the good.