Interpretation in Social Life, Social Science, and Marketing [Paperback]

'Interpretation' is used as an umbrella for bringing together a wide range of concepts and developments in the philosophy of social science that provide the foundation for clear thinking about social phenomena. In his new book, John OShaughnessy familiarises the reader with the nature of interpretation and its importance in social life, decision making in social science enquiries and consumer marketing, thus offering a multidisciplinary approach to problems of bias and uncertainty.

Thus, this book is novel in its outlook and comprehensive in its approach. Whereas past studies in interpretation have focused on hermeneutical methods, OShaughnessy goes further considering the role of interpretation in social interactions, in undertaking scientific work, in the use of statistics, in causal analysis, in consumer evaluations of products and artifacts and in interpreting problematic situations together with the corresponding biases arising from emotional happiness and the concepts employed.

Preface. 1. Interpretation and Methodology. 2. Interpretation and Perspectivism. 3. The Interpretive Stance in the Study of Human Behavior. 4. Interpretation and Concepts. 5. Interpretation of Effects (Causes). 6. Interpretation of a Problematic Situation (Abduction). 7. Interpretation of Words, Symbols and Behavior (Text Hermeneutics). 8. Artifact Interpretation. Notes. Index.

Finally an authoritative book that places marketing research firmly within a comprehensive social science framework by recognising the centrality of social relationships and the dynamics of the inter-personal, of perspective, and of meaning-making in a phenomenal world. Professor OShaughnessy draws the topic into a rich applied focus and careful reading of this book will reward by inspiring and catalysing valuable research in the field, thus opening the minds of students and researchlÃ3