Abstract

LEAL CARRETERO, Fernando. What role does argumentation play in the methodology of social science research?. Espiral (Guadalaj.) [online]. 2017, vol.24, n.70, pp.9-49. ISSN 1665-0565.

The paper defends the thesis that argumentation theory can contribute to research methodology and the other way around, in spite of the fact that current methodological discourse is completely separated from contemporary argumentation studies. In support of this thesis it is argued that a well-written research report delivers a series of arguments purporting to justify the research question, the working hypothesis, any other hypotheses alternative to the working hypothesis and the procedure the author intends to follow or has actually followed in order to test the hypotheses. This argument is developed in detail by means of a relatively recent paper in which a question in political science is asked about the applicability of the median voter model to the state of Singapore.

Keywords : argumentation; research methodology; research question; hypothesis; test design.