Inside Science: Stories from the Field in Human and Animal Science

Inside Science is a unique approach to fieldwork that involves close analysis of classic studies of human communities and animal habitats. It highlights the importance of context and situation in understanding scientific subjects and demonstrates how science and everyday life are overlapping aspects of the human experience.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 04 March 2019
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Context and situation hold immense significance in the lives of humans and animals alike. By conducting scientific studies within human communities and animal habitats, unique insights can be gained. Inside Science is a groundbreaking approach to this distinctive mode of fieldwork. Robert E. Kohler delves into these resident practices through close analyses of classic studies, encompassing Trobriand Islanders, Chicago hobos, corner boys in Boston's North End, Jane Goodall's chimpanzees of the Gombe Stream Reserve, and more. These inside stories from the field are characterized by intensive firsthand observation, a preference for generalizing from observed particulars rather than universal principles, and an ultimate framing of their results in narrative form.

Resident observing spans a diverse range of sciences, including anthropology, sociology, primatology, wildlife ecology, and beyond. What sets it apart, according to Kohler, is the direct access it provides scientists to the contexts in which their subjects reside and engage. These scientists gain a deeper understanding of their subjects by living among them and engaging in various ways, both large and small. This approach not only demonstrates how science and everyday life are interconnected aspects of the human experience but also highlights the importance of narrative in understanding scientific knowledge.

Inside Science is an invaluable resource for historians, sociologists, and philosophers interested in exploring how scientists establish robust knowledge of nature and society. The story-driven exploration offered by this book provides a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances of scientific inquiry, shedding light on the methods and approaches employed by researchers in their pursuit of knowledge. By delving into the experiences of these resident observers, readers can gain a fresh perspective on the role of science in shaping our understanding of the world around us.

Weight: 502g
Dimension: 225 x 159 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226617985