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| - Overview of Soc Sci Methods |
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| - Research Instruments |
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| - Policy Analysis |
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The precautionary rules states that because evidence of harm is uncertain, & error costs are very high, it is acceptable to take precautionary action |
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Precautionary steps must be taken because waiting for evidence may be too late |
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The PR retains a deterministic version of science: its temporary imprecision that will be solved, and then everything will become clear |
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The PR assumes that knowledge itself will not change, just become more detailed |
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The PR may be wrong in its assumption that knowledge will not change because sometimes the old point of view is displaced by a new paradigm or perspective |
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The PR accepts that: |
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- the variables used by one analysis may not be firmly defined |
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- in real world science (as opposed to the lab) there is the possibility of multiple cause effect inferences |
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- circumstantial evidence for cause & effect may be legitimate |
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On closer inspection, all science is circumstantial (principles &
laws are the most firmly est., but even Newton's laws were superseded by
Einsteinian laws)
Will old models fit new situations? |
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A problem for the PR & for pol an in gen is that there is much less of a consensus of knowledge in the social sciences than in the physical sciences |
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The problem for the PR & for pol an of the lack of consensus of knowledge in the social sciences is seen in that there are no laws, the paradigms are in direct conflict & competition, there is little agreement on how the econ operates, there is little agreement on what causes various soc probs, etc. |
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WYNNE’S SCIENCE |
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Wynne holds that we must |
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- recognize the various definitions/gradations of scientific and social actors |
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- solve solutions at various scales |
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- allow that rational people, even scientists can be ambivalent |
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- prediction & control are not absolute |
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| - demand that pol an & scientists build in flexibility to their programs | |||||
| - not make foregone commitments but instead make tentative commitments & decisions in the area of pol & science | |||||
| - allow circumstantial evidence because all evidence is so, & therefore policy an & scientists must develop levels of evidence | |||||
| - recognize humans do not only maximize & satisfice, they sacrifice whenever a prog is dev | |||||
| Wynne does not recognized that politics, economics, power, etc. chase out flexibility & rational discussion & lead pol an to make hard decisions | |||||
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JURIDICAL SCIENCE |
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| The idea of juridical science is that scientists, pol an, politicians, public policy decision makers, agencies, etc. should set up a judicial system to decide issues of science | |||||
| Currently society has only the govt juridical system under the Supreme Science Court to judge scientific & policy claims | |||||
| The Sup Ct, the Fed Appeals Cts, & the Fed Dist Cts are appointed by the Pres, & confirmed by Senate | |||||
| In the jud br of govt, scientists, w/ help from journals & research community (universities, research centers, etc.), present findings to courts to determine “scientific truth” | |||||
| Once a ct decides "the truth," only this info may be used in policy making, ed | |||||
| The info, "the truth" disseminated by the media is excluded from juridical jurisdiction | |||||
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Some social scientists have advocated that that people not be allowed to disseminated "misinformation" through the media |
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| To prevent or limit misinformation through the media, some social scientists & media experts have suggested that side bars tell "the truth" or give the whole story in much the same way that music video pop ups operate | |||||
| For many social scientists, for too long the study of the env & other soc probs have focused on the production side of econ | |||||
| Pol an, scientists, etc. need to focus on the consumption side | |||||
| Conditions of validity need to be set for the discrimination of production solutions & consumption solutions | |||||
The End
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