On scientific method environment and sustainable development 知识讲稿.ppt

On scientific method;What is science?;Hypotheses of Adeoti;Questions of transitions project;What characterises social science?;The role of theory;Social science questions and the answers to them;Causal variables within different social science approaches of innovation ;“Intentionalist” and monocausal explanations are inappropriate for system innovation and societal change The interplay of factors is important (cause-effect chains)We may not have the 2nd world war without Hitler but as an explanation this is poor and teaches no lessons;Quantitative versus qualitative methods;Source: Spicer (2004);Synergies;Source: Spicer (2004);Phronesis;Phronesis is concerned with particulars, because it is concerned with how to act in particular situations. One can learn the principles of action, but applying them in the real world, in situations which one could not have foreseen, requires experience of the world The importance of phronesis to contemporary thought has been spelled out by Bent Flyvbjerg in his book Making Social Science Matter: Why Social Inquiry Fails and How it Can Succeed Again; Flyvbjerg argues that instead of trying to emulate the natural sciences, social science should be practiced as phronesis ;Phronetic social science focuses on four value-rational questions, which are answered for specific cases of social action: (1) Where are we going? (2) Who gains and who loses, by which mechanisms of power? (3) Is this development desirable? (4) What should we do about it?; Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful —George E.P. Box “Abstract analysis of institutional arrangements that would be “optimal” in idealized situations is at best a useful heuristic for the main work, and at worst a diversion from it” – Nelson and Winter (1982) ;Schumpeter on method;Pointers about PhD research;Pointers -- continued;On interpretation;What have you learned? Did you find what you expected to find? How do your results compare to those of the literature? Are the oth