A Conference on Social Statistics and Quantification

"Statistics Are Social:  A Conference on the Tensions Between
Society and Statistics"

Papers and Posters are Invited
Sponsored by the British Academy

Host Institution:                       University of Durham
      Trevelyan College

We invite abstracts, full papers, and poster proposals for a conference to
be held September 23-25, 2004.

The aim of the conference is to confront issues arising from recent
developments in the philosophy of science for the use of statistics among
social scientists.  

Plenary Speakers: 

Charles Ragin, author of Fuzzy-Set Social Science, 2000
Harvey Goldstein, author of Multi-Level Statistical Models, 2003  
Robin Rice, Project Manager of the Task Force on the Use of Numeric Data
in Learning & Teaching in UK Higher Education  (see) Angela Dale,
co-author of Analysing Census Microdata, 2000 Ian Diamond, author with
Julie Jefferies of Beginning Statistics: An Introduction for Social
Scientists, 2001.

We invite papers which 
challenge current notions of appropriate research design,
take up the question of the scientific method or naturalism,
innovate in the analysis of survey data,
explore epistemological questions related to triangulation,
propose and utilise methods such as 
o       case-study research, 
o       complexity theory,
o       fuzzy set theory,
o       feminist epistemology,
study categorical versus quantitative measurement,
do discourse analysis or deconstruction of questionnaires,
study historical development of narratives within statistics 
as a discipline,
consider the ethics of government survey data,
explore privacy issues relating to social data provision,
analyse realism and empiricism in social research, and/or
account for the underpinnings of new statistical techniques.

In particular we wish to encourage two types of papers:
 reflective pieces on epistemology; and
 illustrations of innovative research.

We aim to publish a selection of papers in one of the journals that are
leading the push for innovations that work.  These journals include (among
others) the International Journal for Social Research Methodology, the
Journal of Post-Keynesian Economics, the Journal for the Theory of Social
Behav

We recommend and will support applications for EU Mobility Grants for
those eligible. If you wish to be considered for such support, please send
two copies of your abstract (one to each organiser) as soon as possible.

The organisers:

Dr. Wendy Olsen [log in to unmask]
The Cathie Marsh Centre for Census & Survey ResearchUniversity 
of ManchesterManchester M13 9PLtel. 44+(0)161-275-3043fax 
44+(0)161-27

and
Prof. Dave Byrne	
Department of Sociology and Social Policy University of Durham 32, Old
Elvet Durham DH1 3HN tel. 44+(0)191 374 7239 fax 44+(0)191 7629email
[log in to unmask]	


Abstracts, poster proposals, demonstration proposals and workshop
proposals should be sent to: [log in to unmask]

Abstracts received before 7 May 2004 will be considered for the plenary
and panel presentations. If you wish to attend without presenting a paper,
but to offer a poster, just send us your details so that we know you wish
to come (e.g. doctoral students).