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Rationalism and empiricism in studies of behavior in stressful situations
Author(s) -
Klausner Samuel Z.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 0005-7940
DOI - 10.1002/bs.3830110502
Subject(s) - empiricism , epistemology , phenomenon , inference , rationalism , psychology , positive economics , sociology , philosophy , economics
The present paper grows out of the author's interest in research methodology, especially the problems of inference from indicators to concepts. The proportion of concepts directly reducible to observation terms differs from one research report to another even when workers are studying the same phenomenon and ostensibly working within the same theoretical framework. “Empiricists” try to anchor as many concepts as possible in observation terms. “Rationalists” are more concerned with reasoning from and to observations. Here the author explores orientation and attitudes behind each approach.