Overview

This book introduces a novel version of realism--Measured Realism--that characterizes the kind of theoretical progress in the social and psychological sciences that is uneven but indisputable. Trout proposes a theory of measurement--Population-Guided Estimation--that connects natural, psychological, and social scientific inquiry.

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9780195107661

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<br> The virtues of this book are many and it is well worth the attention of anyone who is interested in the debate about realism and naturalism in the social sciences. It is extremely clear and well-written, and offers a wealth of detail on the history of the relevant philosophical debates. Though primarily a work of philosophy it is well-grounded in current empirical work in the social and behavioral sciences. If few are ultimately persuaded that the realism debate must take heed of the social sciences, that measured realism is the best way to do so, or even that social inquiry deserves to be thought of as scientific, this book provides an engaging challenge against which the reader should test his or her views. --Philosophy of Science<br> A radical book, and essential reading for courses in philosophy of science, statistics, and research methods. --Choice<br> There is much of value in Trout's book. The careful sorting out of often confused realist claims is welcome. His recognition

There is much of value in Trout's book. The careful sorting out of often confused realist claims is welcome. His recognition that the social sciences sometimes have measurement and testing procedures akin to those of the natural sciences is also a welcome antidote to the long tradition of arguing about their scientific status without looking at what they actually do. Trout's claim that assessments of realism issues require carefully looking at specific theories seems to me particularly valuable. Philosophical Review This is an interesting, complex, and important book. Indeed, it may well be the most important book in the philosophy of the social sciences since Rosenberg's Sociobiology and the Preemption of Social Science (1980). In addition to developing an original and intriguing naturalistic account of psychology and the social sciences, Trout offers the reader a most nuanced analysis of various forms of scientific realism, as well as a well-developed version of naturalistic epistemology. Teaching Philosophy A radical book, and essential reading for courses in philosophy of science, statistics, and research methods. Choice

The virtues of this book are many and it is well worth the attention of anyone who is interested in the debate about realism and naturalism in the social sciences. It is extremely clear and well-written, and offers a wealth of detail on the history of the relevant philosophical debates. Though primarily a work of philosophy it is well-grounded in current empirical work in the social and behavioral sciences. If few are ultimately persuaded that the realism debate must take heed of the social sciences, that measured realism is the best way to do so, or even that social inquiry deserves to be thought of as scientific, this book provides an engaging challenge against which the reader should test his or her views. --Philosophy of Science<br> A radical book, and essential reading for courses in philosophy of science, statistics, and research methods. --Choice<br> There is much of value in Trout's book. The careful sorting out of often confused realist claims is welcome. His recognition that the social sciences sometimes have measurement and testing procedures akin to those of the natural sciences is also a welcome antidote to the long tradition of arguing about their scientific status without looking at what they actually do. Trout's claim that assessments of realism issues require carefully looking at specific theories seems to me particularly valuable. --Philosophical Review<br> This is an interesting, complex, and important book. Indeed, it may well be the most important book in the philosophy of the social sciences since Rosenberg's Sociobiology and the Preemption of Social Science (1980). In addition to developing an original and intriguing naturalistic account of psychology andthe social sciences, Trout offers the reader a most nuanced analysis of various forms of scientific realism, as well as a well-developed version of naturalistic epistemology. --Teaching Philosophy<br>

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