Competing paradigms for explaining the etiology of human male homosexual orientation: a case study in the application of the methodology of scientific research programs

dc.contributor.advisorRoss, Don
dc.contributor.advisorOdhiambo, Jack
dc.contributor.authorMbûgua, Karori
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-02T09:26:44Z
dc.date.available2024-07-02T09:26:44Z
dc.date.issued2003
dc.date.updated2024-07-01T08:50:55Z
dc.description.abstract[pg 41,59-61,71,99,110 ,172,173 missing] This thesis is a case study in the application of the principles of the methodology of scientific research programs to a contemporary scientific debate: the debate concerning the causes and origins of human male homosexual orientation. It begins by identifying two major research programs that seek to explain homosexual phenomenon, namely, the biological and experiential research programs. Using the methodology of research programs as a framework for analysis, the study shows that the two programs have stagnated. Neither of them meets the Lakatosian criterion of 'progressivity'. The study argues that lack of progress in this area may be a consequence of the two groups of researchers, the biologists and the experientialists, rigidly clinging to the hard cores of their respective programs. The study calls for an interactionist approach to the study of homosexual etiology and suggests that such an approach could benefit from recent trends in developmental systems theory and evolutionary psychology. It is also argued that this episode in the history of science undermines the normative generalizability of Lakatos' account of science.
dc.identifier.apacitationMbûgua, K. (2003). <i>Competing paradigms for explaining the etiology of human male homosexual orientation: a case study in the application of the methodology of scientific research programs</i>. (). ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Philosophy. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40098en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMbûgua, Karori. <i>"Competing paradigms for explaining the etiology of human male homosexual orientation: a case study in the application of the methodology of scientific research programs."</i> ., ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Philosophy, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40098en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMbûgua, K. 2003. Competing paradigms for explaining the etiology of human male homosexual orientation: a case study in the application of the methodology of scientific research programs. . ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Philosophy. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40098en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Mbûgua, Karori AB - [pg 41,59-61,71,99,110 ,172,173 missing] This thesis is a case study in the application of the principles of the methodology of scientific research programs to a contemporary scientific debate: the debate concerning the causes and origins of human male homosexual orientation. It begins by identifying two major research programs that seek to explain homosexual phenomenon, namely, the biological and experiential research programs. Using the methodology of research programs as a framework for analysis, the study shows that the two programs have stagnated. Neither of them meets the Lakatosian criterion of 'progressivity'. The study argues that lack of progress in this area may be a consequence of the two groups of researchers, the biologists and the experientialists, rigidly clinging to the hard cores of their respective programs. The study calls for an interactionist approach to the study of homosexual etiology and suggests that such an approach could benefit from recent trends in developmental systems theory and evolutionary psychology. It is also argued that this episode in the history of science undermines the normative generalizability of Lakatos' account of science. DA - 2003 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Philosophy LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2003 T1 - Competing paradigms for explaining the etiology of human male homosexual orientation: a case study in the application of the methodology of scientific research programs TI - Competing paradigms for explaining the etiology of human male homosexual orientation: a case study in the application of the methodology of scientific research programs UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40098 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/40098
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMbûgua K. Competing paradigms for explaining the etiology of human male homosexual orientation: a case study in the application of the methodology of scientific research programs. []. ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Philosophy, 2003 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40098en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Philosophy
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.subjectPhilosophy
dc.titleCompeting paradigms for explaining the etiology of human male homosexual orientation: a case study in the application of the methodology of scientific research programs
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoral
dc.type.qualificationlevelPhD
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