Page "Social science" Paragraph 4

Following this period, there were five paths of development that sprang forth in the Social Sciences, influenced by Comte on other fields.

One route that was taken was the rise of social research.

Large statistical surveys were undertaken in various parts of the United States and Europe.

Another route undertaken was initiated by Émile Durkheim, studying " social facts ", and Vilfredo Pareto, opening metatheoretical ideas and individual theories.

A third means developed, arising from the methodological dichotomy present, in which the social phenomena was identified with and understood ; this was championed by figures such as Max Weber.

The fourth route taken, based in economics, was developed and furthered economic knowledge as a hard science.

The last path was the correlation of knowledge and social values ; the antipositivism and verstehen sociology of Max Weber firmly demanded on this distinction.

In this route, theory ( description ) and prescription were non-overlapping formal discussions of a subject.