Open AccessLongitudinal Research in Social Science: Some Theoretical Challenges
Author(s) -
Thomas K. Burch
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
canadian studies in population
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.157
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1927-629X
pISSN - 0380-1489
DOI - 10.25336/p6h30p
Subject(s) - positivism , logical positivism , empirical research , epistemology , longitudinal data , sociology of scientific knowledge , sociology , longitudinal study , positive economics , computer science , management science , social science , economics , mathematics , philosophy , statistics , demography
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.