Bill Gilmore, whom I usually agree with, typically offers “informed opinions” in his letters to the editor. However, in his response to Daniel McCarthy, his criticism of the social sciences was, unfortunately, uninformed. Experimentation alone does not make a discipline or a study scientific. Rather, it is the application of the scientific method, which involves observation, questioning, hypothesizing, testing, analyzing, and drawing conclusions. Experiments are just one way to test a hypothesis. Besides, many social sciences conduct experiments (e.g., psychology). Furthermore, not all social scientists use quantitative methods – many use qualitative and mixed methods to test hypotheses. I encourage Bill, and others, to take some time to better understand the social sciences and the important contributions they make to our society.
Raymond E. Barranco, PhD
Professor
Undergraduate Coordinator
Department of Sociology
Mississippi State University
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