After Method: Mess in Social Science Research'Research Methods': a compulsory course, loved by some but hated by many! This stimulating book is about what went wrong with 'research methods'. Its controversial argument is radical, and at times, even revolutionary. John Law argues that methods don't just describe social realities but are also involved in creating them. The implications of this argument are highly significant, as if this is the case, methods are always political, and it raises the question of what kinds of social realities we want to create. Most current methods look for clarity and precision. It is usually said that only poor research produces messy findings, and the idea that things in the world might be fluid, elusive, or multiple is unthinkable. Law's startling argument is that this is wrong and it is time for a new approach. Many realities, he says, are vague and ephemeral. If methods want to know and to help to shape the world, then they need to reinvent themselves and their politics to deal with mess. That is thechallenge. Nothing less will do. This book is essential reading for students, postgraduates and researchers with an interest methodology. |
Contents
an introduction | 1 |
notes on empiricism and autonomy | 16 |
Scientific practices | 18 |
Multiple worlds | 45 |
notes on interferences and cyborgs | 68 |
Fluid results | 70 |
notes on presence and absence | 83 |
Elusive objects | 86 |
notes on symmetry | 101 |
Nonconventional forms | 104 |
| 178 | |
ག ༤ཆ ཛྲ ༤ སླ 1 | 181 |
| 183 | |
| 185 | |
| 187 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Aboriginal method actor-network theory alcoholic liver disease allegory angiography answer argued argument assumptions atherosclerosis bundle Chapter coherence complex condense context crafting cultural cyborg definite and singular depictions describe different realities Dr Warrington enacted ethnography Euro-American Euro-American metaphysics Euro-American method explore flux Haraway Helen Verran hinterland hospital imagine implication important in-here indefinite independent inquiry inscription devices instance intermittent claudication Kata Tjuta kind Ladbroke Grove Latour and Woolgar less manifest absence material metaphor method assemblage methodological Michel Callon multiple narrative necessarily non-coherent objects ontological politics organisational out-thereness partial connections particular patient patterns Perhaps perspectival philosophical possible practices presence problem produce Quaker question reality out-there relations relevant representation resonate Salk Laboratory scientists shape Shapin simply single Singleton social science sociology sometimes specific stories studies suggest talk technoscience Thames Train theory things Tjukurpa truth Uluru Verran