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Fuzzy thinking in sociology
[collection article]
Abstract "The well-known distinction between soft and hard science cuts a sharp line of demarcation
between hard and soft facts of scientific studies. Physics deal with precise
hard facts characteristically whereas social sciences are confronted with imprecise
soft social facts because social facts are no... view more
"The well-known distinction between soft and hard science cuts a sharp line of demarcation
between hard and soft facts of scientific studies. Physics deal with precise
hard facts characteristically whereas social sciences are confronted with imprecise
soft social facts because social facts are notoriously vague, interpretative facts of
meaning. Therefore Fuzzy logic seems to fit perfectly the needs of social scientist
that look for mathematical precise models to deal with vague, imprecise data [52].
In this contribution we discuss the usefulness of Fuzzy logic for social sciences in
general, and especially sociology. In a first step we summarize some fundamentals
of 'fuzzy thinking' for social scientist. This will lead to the discussion of the
need of fuzzy thinking in action theory, systems theory, modernization theory and
empirical research.We discuss the advantage of fuzzy thinking for action theory and
social systems theory at length whereas the discussion of fuzzy thinking in modernization
theory and empirical research falls short. Modernization theory and empirical
research just function as further examples for the need and usefulness of fuzzy thinking." (excerpt)... view less
Keywords
social system; social science; science; action theory; logic; coding; theory; modernization theory; social research; sociological theory; social code
Classification
General Concepts, Major Hypotheses and Major Theories in the Social Sciences
Methods and Techniques of Data Collection and Data Analysis, Statistical Methods, Computer Methods
Method
basic research
Collection Title
Views on Fuzzy sets and systems from different perspectives: philosophy and logic, criticisms and applications.
Editor
Seising, Rudolf
Document language
English
Publication Year
2009
Publisher
Springer
City
Berlin
Page/Pages
p. 301-320
Series
Studies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing, 243
ISBN
978-3-540-93801-9
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications
Data providerThis metadata entry was indexed by the Special Subject Collection Social Sciences, USB Cologne