This study provides a comprehensive and critical account of Herbert Blumer's methodology. Beginning with a reflexive look at its own program for reading, the study proposes to regard Blumer in light of the systematic character of his arguments, including especially their tenability. The ensuing account, then, attempts to depict the patterns of intelligibility which underlie Blumer's positions, to criticize the positions where needed, and to suggest corrective revisions where appropriate. / The characterization of Blumer's methodology begins with its general framework: Blumer regards methodology as a self-reflective exercise in which the principles underlying scientific inquiry are developed and criticized. This view clashes with all versions of "methodology" which delimit its scope to technical considerations; indeed, Blumer castigates such a truncated focus. / As regards the substantive results of his methodological thinking, Blumer's work presents a decidedly variegated visage. This is admittedly less so in ontological concerns--where Blumer adherred rather consistently to universalist realism--than in epistemological matters, where the diversity of Blumer's thinking requires the introduction of a developmental schema. Accordingly, the study proposes a three-stage sequence: Beginning in his first paper with a pragmatist-inspired position, Blumer shifted to a positivist stance centered upon the attempt to provide experiential definitions of concepts. Eventually Blumer simply deployed his positivist empiricism without making any effort to account for it theoretically--he replaced methodology with method. / But there is another facet of Blumer's work which, inconsistent with the reductive empiricism, is more suggestive for current methodological thinking. That facet concerns the semantic unity of theory and method. In such areas as public opinion research and "variable analysis," Blumer provides some insightful criticism of current practices. In expounding and defending this aspect of Blumer's work, the study advances suggestions for revamping his empiricism to bring it into line with what in his thinking is worth preserving. Toward that end the discussions turns upon such issues as the theory-ladenness of observation, theory-testing, the sociality of knowledge, and the valuational facet of scientific inquiry. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-09, Section: A, page: 2835. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75628 |
| Contributors | BAUGH, KENNETH R., JR., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 285 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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