"The Art of Social Science" (Redfield, 1948)

REDFIELD, Robert, 1948, "THE ART OF SOCIAL SCIENCE", AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY, 54-3: 181
~190, (http://www.jstor.org/stable/2770543). 

 

ABSTRACT

In addition to the undoubted and well-recognized aspects of social science which are scientific as the physical sciences are scientific, social science is also an art. This art consists, in some part, of perceptive understanding of some aspect of human nature, the gift or skill in making significant generalizations as a derivative of such perception, and a fresh viewpoint that questions previous views. Because this aspect of social science requires development, it is well to recognize the relationship of social science to humanistic endeavors and to include in the preparation of social scientists, as such, a humanistic education.