1,296 research outputs found
The effects of balance, involvement, and cognitive complexity upon observers’ casual attributions and interpersonal communication
Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Kansas, Speech and Drama, 1974
Explanation in the Social Sciences with particular reference to economics
The aim of this thesis is to discuss the nature of
social phenomena, and to determine (with particular reference to
economics) the appropriate way to explain them. Many of the
contentions advanced rest largely upon the fact that social phenomena
can be investigated only by methods which respect their distinctive
character and status as social phenomena.
In chapter I it is argued that the most important
difference between the social and the natural sciences is that the
former have to employ intentional criteria to identify their
explananda-phenomena. Because human and societal phenomena are
intrinsically meaningful, the type of causation which prevails in
the social realm is fundamentally different from that which prevails
in the physical.
In chapter II the claim of Popper and Hayek that the
task of the social sciences is to trace the unintended consequences
of human actions is critically examined. Two examples of economic
explanation are given in order to show the importance of unintended
consequences, and to illustrate the general form explanations of
social phenomena (apart from those of single actions) should adopt.
In chapter III the contention that the social sciences
deal with inherently complex phenomena is examined and defended,
and the main implications of this contention for social analysis
are drawn. The extent to which social phenomena are in principle
predictable is discussed.
In chapter IV the structural properties of formal
scientific theories are briefly characterised, and then Friedman's
famous argument on the testability of economic theories is analysed
and rejected. The role within a scientific theory of statements
formulated with reference to idealisations of the phenomena being
studied, and the role within a social explanation of the 'principle
of rationality', are discussed.
In chapter V the central questions behind the
methodological individualism/methodological holism controversy are
brought to light. Provided that methodological individualism is
not construed as a reductionist or mechanistic principle, it can
successfully avoid the main objections of its detractors. It is
argued that the method of functional analysis in sociology (in
the form developed by Merton) is consistent with methodological
individualism. Finally, it is claimed that (apart from a few
minor exceptions) the principle of methodological individualism
does indeed recommend the appropriate way to explain societal
phenomena.
In chapter VI, the various strands of thought running
through the five preceding chapters are drawn together in a brief
summary of the most important points raised by this thesis
Selection on synonymous sites:the unwanted transcript hypothesis
Although translational selection to favour codons that match the most abundant tRNAs is not readily observed in humans, there is nonetheless selection in humans on synonymous mutations. We hypothesize that much of this synonymous site selection can be explained in terms of protection against unwanted RNAs — spurious transcripts, mis-spliced forms or RNAs derived from transposable elements or viruses. We propose not only that selection on synonymous sites functions to reduce the rate of creation of unwanted transcripts (for example, through selection on exonic splice enhancers and cryptic splice sites) but also that high-GC content (but low-CpG content), together with intron presence and position, is both particular to functional native mRNAs and used to recognize transcripts as native. In support of this hypothesis, transcription, nuclear export, liquid phase condensation and RNA degradation have all recently been shown to promote GC-rich transcripts and suppress AU/CpG-rich ones. With such ‘traps’ being set against AU/CpG-rich transcripts, the codon usage of native genes has, in turn, evolved to avoid such suppression. That parallel filters against AU/CpG-rich transcripts also affect the endosomal import of RNAs further supports the unwanted transcript hypothesis of synonymous site selection and explains the similar design rules that have enabled the successful use of transgenes and RNA vaccines.</p
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