After Method: Mess in Social Science Research (International Library of Sociology)

John Law argues that methods don't just describe social realities but are also involved in creating them. The implications of this argument are highly significant. If this is the case, methods are always political, and it raises the question of what kinds of social realities we want to create. Most current methods look for clarity and precision. It is usually said that only poor research produces messy findings, and the idea that things in the world might be fluid, elusive, or multiple is unthinkable. Law's startling argument is that this is wrong and it is time for a new approach. Many realities, he says, are vague and ephemeral. If methods want to know and help to shape the world, then they need to reinvent themselves and their politics to deal with mess. That is the challenge. Nothing less will do.-- Provided by Publisher After Method: An Introduction; Interlude: Notes On Empiricism And Autonomy -- Scientific Practices; Interlude: Notes On Paradigms -- Multiple Worlds; Interlude: Notes On Interferences And Cyborgs -- Fluid Results; Interlude: Notes On Presence And Absence -- Elusive Objects; Interlude: Notes On Symmetry -- Non-conventional Forms; Interlude: Notes On Purity And Hybridity -- Imagination And Narrative; Interlude: Hinterland And Reality -- Conclusion: Ontological Politics And After. John Law. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Education, Politics & IR, Sociology & Social Policy Book Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 8 1 After method: an introduction 10 2 Scientific practices 27 3 Multiple worlds 54 4 Fluid results 79 5 Elusive objects 95 6 Non-conventional forms 113 7 Imagination and narrative 131 8 Conclusion: ontological politics and after 152 Glossary 166 Notes 174 References 183 Index 192 This book is a startling, controversial and original manifesto for a complete review of research methods and methodology in the social sciences and a must read for anyone involved in this area This stimulating book is about what went wrong with 'research methods'. Its controversial argument is radical, and at times, even revolutionary.-publisher description