Citation

Tsujimura A. IATSS Res. 1977; 1(1): 114-117.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the first issue of the IATSS Review, Professor Emori, in seeking to promote the advance of interdisciplinary research proposed a schema of "why-what-and how" as a process of thinking about traffic problems in which I believe the "why" our problem consciousness was especially emphasized, while the problem of the "how" our methodology was played down. In contrast, I would like to explain in this article by reference to two cases why in the domain of the social sciences the argument on the problem of "how" must be given priority. The first case focuses on the necessary choice between the Marxist class society theory or the non-Marxist mass society perspective in attempting to analyze contemporary society. The second case offers an explanation of the necessary selection among three different viewpoints in dealing with the national character of a definite country.