文章基本信息

标题：Longitudinal Research in Social Science: Some Theoretical Challenges
本地全文：下载
作者：Thomas K. Burch
期刊名称：Canadian Studies in Population
印刷版ISSN：1927-629X
出版年度：2001
卷号：28
期号：2
页码：262-283
出版社：Population Research Laboratory, University of Alberta
摘要：Every advance carries with it potential problems, and longitudinal analysis is no exception. This paper focuses on the problems related to the massive amounts of data generated by longitudinal surveys. It is argued that a proliferation of data may be to the good but it will not necessarily lead to better scientific knowledge. Most demographers think the logical positivist way that theory arises out of empirical generalisations, but massive empirical investigations have only led to disappointing theoretical outcomes in demography. This paper discusses one way out of this impasse - to adopt a different view of theory, a model-based view of science. Theoretical models based on empirical generalisation should become the main representational device in science.