Cited by 151Philosophy and History of ScienceSocial Science and Policy ResearchPhilosophy, Science, and History

Community Science, Philosophy of Science, and the Practice of Research

Tebes, Jacob Kraemer·2005·American Journal of Community Psychology

Abstract

Embedded in community science are implicit theories on the nature of reality (ontology), the justification of knowledge claims (epistemology), and how knowledge is constructed (methodology). These implicit theories influence the conceptualization and practice of research, and open up or constrain its possibilities. The purpose of this paper is to make some of these theories explicit, trace their intellectual history, and propose a shift in the way research in the social and behavioral sciences, and community science in particular, is conceptualized and practiced. After describing the influence and decline of logical empiricism, the underlying philosophical framework for science for the past century, I summarize contemporary views in the philosophy of science that are alternatives to logical empiricism. These include contextualism, normative naturalism, and scientific realism, and propose that a modified version of contextualism, known as perspectivism, affords the philosophical framework for an emerging community science. I then discuss the implications of perspectivism for community science in the form of four propositions to guide the practice of research.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s10464-005-3399-x

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Authors
Tebes, J. K.
Affiliations
Yale University (US)
Corresponding author
Tebes, Jacob Kraemer
Venue
American Journal of Community Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2005-06
Volume
35
Issue
3-4
Pages
213-230
ISSN
0091-0562 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2044512384
Cited by
151
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 5
FWCI
34.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Community Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
  • Social Sciences › General Social Sciences › Social Science and Policy Research
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy, Science, and History
Keywords
citizen science, philosophy of science, logical positivism, contextualism, normative naturalism, scientific realism, perspectivism, ontology, epistemology, methodology, social and behavioral sciences, research practices
MeSH terms
Community Mental Health Services, Health Services Research, Humans, Logic, Philosophy, Preventive Health Services, Psychology, Social, Science, United States, Behavioral Research, Empirical Research

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