Evidential Pluralism in the Social Sciences

• Main Author: Shan, Yafeng (auth)
• Other Authors: Williamson, Jon (auth)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2023
• Series: Philosophy and Method in the Social Sciences
• Subjects: Social research & statistics; Philosophy; causality;correlation;economics;evidence;evidence-based policy;evidential pluralism;law;legal studies;mechanism;mixed methods research;psychology;research methods;science;social science;sociology
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

This volume contends that Evidential Pluralism-an account of the epistemology of causation, which maintains that in order to establish a causal claim one needs to establish the existence of a correlation and the existence of a mechanism-can be fruitfully applied to the social sciences. Through case studies in sociology, economics, political science and law, it advances new philosophical foundations for causal enquiry in the social sciences. The book provides an account of how to establish and evaluate causal claims and it offers a new way of thinking about evidence-based policy, basic social science research and mixed methods research. As such, it will appeal to scholars with interests in social science research and methodology, the philosophy of science and evidence-based policy.