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An Exploratory Study of Free Will in the Social Sciences

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An Exploratory Study of Free Will in the Social Sciences AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF FREE WILL IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES A Thesis Presented to The Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University In Partial Fulfillment of the Program Requirement for Ashbrook Students Michael Byrne April, 2011 © 2011 Michael Byrne ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii Abstract This study is an exploratory analysis of the belief in free will within the social sciences. While free will is a common topic in many fields, currently, very little research has investigated this topic. As such, this study was based on the assumption that no statistical difference would be found between the social sciences on belief in free will. To investigate this hypothesis, a historical case study was used to analyze belief in free will among professionals in the social science fields. Three general problems were addressed. First, this study examined the consistency of the belief in free will or determinism across the major divisions of the soft sciences. Second, this investigation highlighted the differences found within anthropology and political science. Lastly, consistency and inconsistency in the belief of free will and determinism within the social sciences was discussed. Significance was found in political science and anthropology. Two potential implications are addressed for these findings. Firstly, anthropology and political science may not accurately be classified as social sciences. Secondly, a mobius model was introduced to explain the natural flow of quantitative and qualitative methods that define the social sciences. These results provide an understanding of the social sciences beliefs concerning free-will. As no research has investigated belief in this way before, this research provides a basis for further research. Further research should be pursued addressing the role of religion, time, sub- fields, and work in multiple fields. The proposed mobius-model should also be further analyzed. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Foremost, I would like to thank my parents. Both my mother and father have provided the support and love that has enabled me to complete this project. No amount of writing can fully capture my appreciation for all they do and all they mean to me. I would also like to extend thanks to friends and family who have been so supportive. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Oscar McKnight for his motivation, knowledge, and guidance. Without his direction, this project would not have been possible. Lastly, I would like to thank Ashland University and the Ashbrook Program for the education and experience. A special thanks to all of those professors who have been particularly helpful along the way. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………...iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………………………………………………………………………..iv LIST OF TABLES ………………………………………………………………………………vii Chapter 1. THE PROBLEM ......................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Free Will and Determinism ......................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of the study .................................................................................................................... 2 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................................ 2 Assumptions of the Study ........................................................................................................... 3 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................ 3 General Research Hypothesis ...................................................................................................... 3 Delimitations ............................................................................................................................... 4 Definitions and Operational Terms ............................................................................................. 4 2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ............................................................................................ 5 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................ 5 Higher Education ......................................................................................................................... 5 Hard Sciences .............................................................................................................................. 6 Humanities .................................................................................................................................. 6 Social Sciences ............................................................................................................................ 7 Determinism ................................................................................................................................ 8 Environmental determinism .................................................................................................... 8 v Behavioral Determinism .......................................................................................................... 9 Psychological Determinism ..................................................................................................... 9 Economic Determinism ........................................................................................................... 9 Free will ................................................................................................................................. 10 Free will and Predictability .................................................................................................... 10 3. PROCEDURES......................................................................................................................... 12 Restatement of the Problem ...................................................................................................... 12 Description of Sample ............................................................................................................... 12 Research Design ........................................................................................................................ 13 General Research Hypothesis .................................................................................................... 14 Derivation of General Research Hypothesis ............................................................................. 14 Instrument .................................................................................................................................. 15 Variable List .............................................................................................................................. 15 Data Collection .......................................................................................................................... 15 Statistical Treatment .................................................................................................................. 16 Limitations ................................................................................................................................ 16 4. RESULTS ................................................................................................................................. 17 Demography .............................................................................................................................. 17 5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS ......................................................... 26 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................................... 26 Procedures ................................................................................................................................. 26 Description of Sample ........................................................................................................... 26 Research Design .................................................................................................................... 27 vi General Research Hypothesis ................................................................................................ 27 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 28 Anthropology Findings .......................................................................................................... 28 Political Science Findings ..................................................................................................... 32 Other Social Sciences ............................................................................................................ 35 Law ........................................................................................................................................ 39 Implications of Study ................................................................................................................ 42 Suggestions for Future Study .................................................................................................... 44 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................
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