Methods and Philosophy: Doing Science

The purpose of this dissertation can be summarized as small set of modest attempts to contribute to improving scientific practice. Each of these attempts was geared towards either increasing understanding of a particular problem or making a contribution to how science can be practiced. The general focus was on philosophical nuance while remaining methodologically practicable. The five papers contained in this dissertation are both methodologically and philosophically diverse. The first three (Chapters 2 through 4) are more empirical in nature and are focused on understanding and evaluating how science is practiced. The last two (Chapters 5 and 6) are focused on the improvement of scientific practice by providing tools for the improvement of empirical research with a strong philosophical foundation.