A Pragmatic Perspective of Measurement

This book aims to address the challenges of defining measurement in social sciences, presenting a conceptualization of the practice of measurement from the perspective of the pragmatic tradition in philosophy. It reviews key questions regarding the scope and limits of measurement, emphasizes the need to clarify the similarities and differences between measurement in the physical and social realms, and presents influential theories of measurement such as the "classical view" and operationalism. The pragmatic perspective encourages researchers to abandon the pursuit of a timeless and perfect definition of measurement and to ground their assessment practices in the context of social measurement.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 83 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This book aims to address the challenges of defining measurement in social sciences, presenting a conceptualization of the practice of measurement from the perspective of the pragmatic tradition in philosophy. The book reviews key questions regarding the scope and limits of measurement, emphasizing that if the trust that the public places on measures in the social sciences relies on their connection to the notion of measurement in the physical sciences, then the clarification of the similarities and differences between measurement in the physical and the social realms is of central importance to adequately contextualize their relative advantages and limitations. It goes on to present some of the most influential theories of measurement, such as the "classical view" of measurement, operationalism, and the representational theory of measurement, as well as more methodological perspectives arising from the practice of researchers in the social sciences, such as the latent variable perspective, and from the physical sciences and engineering, represented by metrology. This overview illustrates that the concept of measurement, and that of quantitative methods, is currently being used across the board in ways that do not necessarily conform to traditional, classical definitions of measurement, pushing the boundaries of what constitutes our technical understanding of it. Moreover, what constitutes a technical understanding of measurement, and the theoretical commitments that it entails, must vary in different areas. In this context, disagreement on what is constitutive of measurement is bound to appear.

Pragmatism is presented as a theoretical perspective that offers the advantage of being flexible and fallibilist, encouraging us to abandon the pursuit of a timeless and perfect truth. It emphasizes the importance of context and the practical implications of our beliefs and actions. Pragmatism encourages us to be open to new ideas and to adapt our beliefs and practices to the changing circumstances of the world around us. It also emphasizes the importance of empirical evidence and the scientific method in the pursuit of knowledge.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the concept of measurement in social sciences
sciences, and its implications for our understanding of the world around us. It is a valuable resource for researchers, students, and practitioners in the fields of social sciences.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030740245
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021