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Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997 02:11:23 -0400
From: tombrown@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Thomas F Brown)
Subject: Re: SOCGRAD digest 115
To: socgrad@csf.colorado.edu
Message-id: <199710080611.CAA11246@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>
>Can anyone out there assist in explaining the following concepts:
>*fallacy of affirming the consequent
>*brute empiricism

Brute empiricism refers to seeking patterns in data outside of a 
theoretical context. In other words, you are letting the numbers tell
the story, rather than presenting your analysis within a theoretical 
framework.  But this is social science, not mathematics. Precise meanings 
are sometimes evasive, especially when phrases are taken out of context.
"Brute empiricism" might connote pejorative overtones. Or it might just
describe an exploratory project.