Tests of Concepts in Herbert Blumer's Method

Abstract

Herbert Blumer left tlnclear the bearing of his method on substantive argumentsthathemadeaboutsocialunrest, socialproblems,publicopinion, race relations, andmass society. These argllments cOllldscarcelY have been grounded upon that weI/-known fundamental of his method, direct observation of ongoing social interaction. Th~ are, boneoer, consistent with another centralprinciple discussed in Blumer's essay on method ­ empirical tests of concepts. Several of hisarticles onsubstantive concepts suggest thekindsof results that may bepursuedwith concept testing.