?Meehan presents a picture of the social sciences and their methods which emphasizes its immediate instrumental value in solving social problems and policy issues. Beginning with the meta-theory of the fact-value dichotomy, he guides us step by step through the scientific process, from inception to presentation of findings, pausing when necessary to warn us of pitfalls or instruct us on the proper interpretation of an issue. The reviewer will not attempt to supply the details of this rich and thoughtful presentation. Suffice it to say that this work presents positivist social science with a rare paradigmatic clarity.?-American Academy of Social Science. Annals