Volume 4 · Number 1 ·
Pages 50–61
Methodologizing Radical Constructivism. Recipes for RC-Designs in the Social Sciences
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Abstract
Purpose: Several accounts like Ernst von Glasersfeld’s Who Conceives of Society? (2008) locate empirical research in the social sciences and radical constructivism in almost parallel universes. The main purpose of this paper is to argue for more inter-active relations and to stress the importance of establishing weak, medium and strong ties between radical constructivism and empirical social research in general. Findings: The article shows that that weak, medium and strong ties between radical constructivism and empirical research in the social sciences can be established. Moreover, these weak, medium and strong ties play a crucial role for increasing and maintaining the relevance of radical constructivism within the social sciences and for contributing to the viability of radical constructivism in the long run. Implications: The most important consequence for radical constructivism lies in a new research agenda. In the course of this article weak, medium and strong ties to empirical research have been specified specifically and exclusively for the social sciences. But these specific links cannot be simply generalized or transferred to other disciplinary fields outside the social sciences. Since interactive links between radical constructivism and empirical research are currently missing in practically all disciplines, these weak, medium and strong links, as a new RC-agenda, have to be developed separately for each major scientific research arena.
Key words: social science methodology, research designs
Citation
Müller K. H. (2008) Methodologizing radical constructivism. Recipes for rc-designs in the social sciences. Constructivist Foundations 4(1): 50–61. http://constructivist.info/4/1/050
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