On Becker’s studies of marijuana use as an example of analytic induction

Hammersley, Martyn (2011). On Becker’s studies of marijuana use as an example of analytic induction. Philosophy of the Social Sciences, 41(4) pp. 535–566.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0048393110367796

Abstract

Analytic induction (AI) is an interpretation of scientific method that emerged in early twentieth-century sociology and still has some influence today. Among the studies often cited as examples are Becker’s articles on marijuana use. While these have been given less attention than the work of Lindesmith on opiate addiction and Cressey on financial trust violation, Becker’s work has distinctive features. Furthermore, it raises some important and interesting issues that relate not only to AI but to social scientific explanation more generally. These concern, for example, the presence and nature of causal systems in the social world, the relationship between historical and generalizing approaches, the character and role of social scientific theories, and how they are generated. In this article Becker’s research is examined in detail, and these issues explored through comparisons with the work of Lindesmith and Cressey.

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About

• Item ORO ID
• 31349
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 0048-3931
• Keywords
• analytic induction; causal analysis; social scientific explanation; case study; marijuana use
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport > Education
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS)
• Copyright Holders
• © 2011 The Authors
• Depositing User
• Martyn Hammersley