Radhakrishnan, Sita2024-12-312024-12-311989Radhakrishnan, S. (1989). Problems in Social Science Research: The Case of Political Science in India. ICSSR Newsletter.http://192.9.200.215:4000/handle/123456789/315This text is based on a lecture delivered at the Academic Staff College, Jawaharlal Nehru University, during the first Refresher Course in Political Science. It addresses key issues in social science research, offering a critical examination of the paradigms, methodologies, and inherent limitations of the field.In this lecture, Dr. Sita Radhakrishnan explores the foundational challenges of social science research, particularly in political science. She addresses the historical context of social sciences, tracing their roots to the Industrial Revolution and Auguste Comte's philosophy. The lecture emphasizes the paradigm shifts brought about by Einstein’s theory of relativity and its implications for both natural and social sciences. Dr. Radhakrishnan highlights the tentative nature of scientific knowledge, its relativity, and the complexity of studying human behavior within a dynamic social reality. The discussion also delves into the evolution of political science from philosophy, marking its transition into a distinct discipline with scientific methodologies.enSocial SciencePolitical ScienceScientific MethodRelativitySocial RealityPhilosophyArticle