Laws, Explanation, and Interpretation

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-realism/
This site provides a detailed discussion and analysis of scientific realism. The site discusses arguments both in favour and against scientific realist assumptions, and discusses how proponents of scientific realism respond to its critics. It provides a bibliography, academic tools, and internet resources for further research.

http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~delittle/Encyclopedia%20entries/falsifiability.htm
This provides a good summary of the concept of falsifiability. It compares differences in how Karl Popper and Imre Lakatos interpret the concept, and discusses how Popper uses the concept to challenge Marxist theory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X8Xfl0JdTQ
This 9-minute YouTube video gives an accessible and entertaining overview of the philosophy of Karl Popper, paying particular attention to the concept of falsifiability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTsaZWzVJ4c

This short video gives an introduction to the concept of ontology. Useful definitions are also provided in the description box, along with a list of key topics discussed in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI9-YgSzsEQ

A video created by the same lecturer, introducing the concept of epistemology.

http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/positvsm.php
This is a useful web source comparing positivism with interpretivism. It discusses the differences between how these approaches understand and explain social phenomena and the ways in which they challenge each other. It is a quick and useful tool for grasping the essence of the two approaches before considering more detailed and challenging discussions of the approaches.

https://revisesociology.com/2015/05/18/positivism-interpretivism-sociology/

Another useful overview of positivism and interpretivism, including contrasting research aims and the research methods most frequently associated with each approach.

https://prabash78.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/interpretivism-and-postivism-ontological-and-epistemological-perspectives/

This article summarises key ideas in an accessible way, while giving lots of references to academic literature for further information. Covers ontology, epistemology, interpretivism, and positivism.

http://www.iep.utm.edu/soc-sci/
This is a very informative web site offering a comprehensive account of naturalism/positivism, interpretivism, the issue of social laws, hermeneutics, and the dichotomy between explanation and understanding. The source also offers a detailed bibliography.

http://www.e-ir.info/2014/12/11/the-impact-of-roy-bhaskar-and-critical-realism-on-international-relations/
This essay by Prof. Jonathan Joseph discusses the impact of the work of Roy Bhaskar and of critical realism on the study of International Relations. In doing so, it gives an overview of the key tenets of critical realism in eleven points.

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