■

[Hunt, S.]

Hunt, S. D. (1994). 'A Realist Theory of Empirical Testing: "Resolving the Theory-Ladenness/Objectivity Debate". Philosophy of the Social Sciences 24(2): 133-158.
http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pao:&rft_dat=xri:pao:article:h310-1994-024-02-000001
This article explores whether theory-ladenness makes empirical testing an insecure foundation for objectivity. Specifically, this article uses path diagrams as visual heuristics to assist in
(1) developing a parsimonious representation of the traditional empiricist view of empirical testing,
(2) showing how the 'New Image' view ostensibly threatens the objectivity of science,
(3) proposing a unified, realist theory of empirical testing,
(4) developing a representation of the unified theory,
(5) exploring several potential threats to objectivity,
(6) discussing the proposed theory's implications for social science, and
(7) adumbrating three foundational premises for scientific realism.