Making a Mess with Method1
Published 1 January 2007
John Law
Citations147
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ObjectiveStudy objective
MethodsResearch methodology
PopulationPopulation studied
Sample sizeSample sizes
OutcomesStudy outcomes here
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TL;DR
If the world is non-coherent, then methods that seek and describe it as coherent are making a mess of doing so and the chapter recommends non- coherent or 'messy' methods.
Abstract
If the world is non-coherent, then methods that seek and describe it as coherent are making a mess of doing so. This argument is developed empirically and philosophically. After showing that the comment sense realism of standard methods works to other non-coherence, the chapter recommends non-coherent or 'messy' methods.
Keywords
Social SciencesDecision SciencesArts and Humanities
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