Paradigm or Perspective?: A Note to the Discourse Community
Document Type
Note
Publication Date
1-1-1993
Description
In his essay on the development of knowledge, Kuhn refers to methods of puzzle solving as paradigms. In time, the social sciences began to utilize Kuhn's term to differentiate and discuss various theoretical perspectives. The authors suggest an alternative interpretation of paradigms in criminology as a vehicle for stimulating discussion of the concept. The paper explores the myth of a Kuhnian revolution in the development of criminological knowledge as well as the implications of a lack of new criminological paradigms. The authors conclude that ideological competition among perspectives instead of a revolution between paradigms has occurred within the discipline. Because of this competition based on values instead of empirical evidence, theoretical development has stagnated.
Citation Information
Blankenship, Michael B.; and Brown, Stephen E.. 1993. Paradigm or Perspective?: A Note to the Discourse Community. Journal of Crime and Justice. Vol.16(1). 167-175. https://doi.org/10.1080/0735648X.1993.9721484 ISSN: 0735-648X