The Implementation Path of Mechanism-Based Empirical Research Methods in Social Sciences
In facing the challenges of contemporary social science research,a critical reassessment of the path-ways for implementing empirical research methods is particularly important.This paper aims to explore the mechanism-based research methods in social sciences,with special attention to avoiding the"Comtean Trap"and responding to Hayek's challenges.The article first reviews the historical evolution of social science re-search methods,particularly noting Comte's positivism and its influence on the quantitative trend in modern so-cial science research methods.Although Comte's method advanced the development of social sciences,exces-sive quantification led to data mining replacing explanation and models becoming detached from empirical re-ality,known as the"Comtean Trap".Meanwhile,Hayek's challenges of"homogeneity"and"causality"provide important reflective perspectives.He emphasized the dispersion of knowledge,the complexity of social systems,and the limitations of prediction.Consequently,the complexity and openness also make the construction of sta-ble causal relationships in social sciences a challenge.Based on this,the article proposes research on social mechanisms as an important alternative methodological pathway.Social mechanisms focus on processes,identify the roles of events,and construct their connections,opening a more in-depth interpretive pathway to the social world than variable models.Upon comparing different social mechanism research methods,the article con-structs a continuum of research methods based on induction and deduction,emphasizing the enhancement of research effectiveness through the iterative integration of cases and models,thus providing an important supple-ment and expansion to the diversified methodologies in social sciences.Finally,the article critically introspects the mechanism-based empirical research methods in social sciences,emphasizing that although these methods have their advantages,in facing the diversity and complexity of social phenomena,there is also a need to ac-tively seek innovative methods to respond to the new challenges of social science research.
Social Science Research MethodsComtean TrapSocial MechanismsCausalityComplexity
万方数据
维普
