The rise of empirical social research : some aspects of the development of the social sciences at the University of Chicago 1915-1930
The development of the social sciences at the University of Chicago in the period between 1915 and 1930 played a significant part in the rise of empirical social research. This thesis examines these developments with particular reference to sociology and, to a lesser extent, political science, by considering the methods of social research employed at this period and the ways in which social science research was institutionalised in the university. The pre-eminent place of the Department of Sociology at the University of Chicago in the history of early American sociology is established briefly. The research methods of W.I. Thomas and F. Znaniecki's classic work The Polish Peasant in Europe and America are then,discussed. There follows a detailed examination of the methods of empirical inquiry used in the field studies supervised by R.E. Park and E.W.Burgess, and carried out mainly by graduate students in the Department of Sociology. The extent of interest in quantitative methods at this period is then considered. The influence of J.A. Field, E.W. Burgess, W.F. Ogburn and S.A. Stouffer is documented, and it is shown how much quantitative work was done by Chicago sociologists. cInterest in such methods was fostered
Bulmer, Martin Ivan Alan
History
The rise of empirical social research : some aspects of the development of the social sciences at the University of Chicago 1915-1930. The development of the social sciences at the University of Chicago in the period between 1915 and 1930 played a significant part in the rise of empirical social research. This thesis examines these developments with particular reference to sociology and, to a lesser extent, political science, by considering the methods of social research employed at this period and the ways in which social science research was institutionalised in the university. The pre-eminent place of the Department of Sociology at the University of Chicago in the history of early American sociology is established briefly. The research methods of W.I. Thomas and F. Znaniecki's classic work The Polish Peasant in Europe and America are then,discussed. There follows a detailed examination of the methods of empirical inquiry used in the field studies supervised by R.E. Park and E.W.Burgess, and carried out mainly by graduate students in the Department of Sociology. The extent of interest in quantitative methods at this period is then considered. The influence of J.A. Field, E.W. Burgess, W.F. Ogburn and S.A. Stouffer is documented, and it is shown how much quantitative work was done by Chicago sociologists. cInterest in such methods was fostered
rise empirical social_aspect development social university development social university period play_significant part rise empirical social research examines_development particular_reference sociology less_extent political science consider method social employed period way social science institutionalised university pre_eminent place department sociology university history early american sociology establish briefly method thomas classic work polish peasant europe america discuss follow_detailed examination method empirical inquiry use field study supervise park carry mainly graduate student department sociology extent interest quantitative_method period consider influence field document show much quantitative work sociologist method foster