Review Of "The Social Psychology Of Science" Edited By W. R. Shadish And S. Fuller

Document Type

Book Review

Publication Date

10-1-1994

Published In

Choice

Abstract

The social studies of science have long been dominated by sociologists of knowledge, historians of science, and social constructionists from a variety of disciplines. This volume represents the first concerted attempt by experimental social psychologists to enter the deliberations, and the 19 chapters are largely explorations into the potentials of such a development. Chapters variously explore the value of research in cognition, motivation, intergroup relations, social influence, and meta-analysis for elucidating the scientific process. Others lay out programmatic guidelines for the future and reflect on the philosophic, moral, and scientific implications of such endeavors. The book is primarily a blueprint, however, as none of the chapters reflect actual research on scientific practice. Further, the entire enterprise is marred by the overarching irony that experimental social psychology is already committed to a view of properly conducted science. Subsequent research must vindicate this conception, or the enterprise dies of its own convictions. For upper-division undergraduates and above.

Comments

This work is freely available courtesy of Choice Reviews. The review has been reproduced in full in the abstract field.

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