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The Social Studies of Science Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP. Robert Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP. Science as a social institution. how science is organized and regulates itself emphasis on nature of relationships social aspects of production of knowledge
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The Social Studies of Science Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP
Robert Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP Science as a social institution • how science is organized and regulates itself • emphasis on nature of relationships • social aspects of production of knowledge • no discussion about content or nature of knowledge • knowledge blackboxed due to empirism & economical metaphor • scientific knowledge independent of scientific activity
Merton | Thomas Kuhn | SSK | SSP science as a social community • The Structure of Scientific Revolution (1962) • scientific criteria not universal • development of scientific knowledge as object of sociological research • external factors play a role in scientific choices
Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP How are cognitive and social aspects of science related? • obduracy of classification due to: • normative value • economic metaphor • philosophy =/= sociology of science • science is social • empirical & naturalistic
Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP Macro and Micro Sociological Analysis • Macro: Edinburgh School • Barnes, Bloor, Shapin • ‘interest’ of relevant groups • Micro: Bath School • Collins • Empirical Program of Relativism (EPOR) • interpretative flexibility • closure • wider context
Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP Sociology of Scientific Practice • investigation of activities, judgements and interpretations • form of methodological internalism • microscopic study • ‘how’ over ‘why’ questions • constructivist approach
Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP Sociology of Scientific Practice • linguistic turn • Latour & Woolgar • process of persuasion • Analysis of practical reasoning • -Knorr-Cetina, Lynch • analysis of scientific writing • Discourse analysis • Gilbert & Mulkay • study of the organization of meaning
Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP Sociology of Scientific Practice • Breakdown of classification scheme • process of negotiation • meaning of scientific observations and interpretations are socially constructed through contesting and modification • scientific outcomes may depend on • argumentative skills • prestige • material resources
Merton | Kuhn | SSK | SSP Sociology of Scientific Practice • Core of science is social because • Process of persuasion • contextual contingenties • Breakdown of classification scheme • But in transition from ‘scientists knowledge claim’ to ‘taken-for-granted fact’ we see construction of classification scheme • distinction between cognitive - social is result instead of building blocks of the process of scientific inquiry