This article studies the social constructionalism approach in philosophy of science and sociology of science fields. Because of the deficiency of standard philosophies of science (positivism and negativism) and introduction of theories such as theory ladenness of observations, underdetermination of theories by evidence and incommensurability of paradigms, social constructionalism was introduced as a competitor of standard philosophies of science.
Historically, social constructionalism is rooted in sociology of knowledge and sociology of science and persuades a valid and complete understanding of science in social grounds. In analysis of this approach, the philosophy of science texts, different kinds of social constructionalism and claims and consequences of each kind are carefully studied.
Finally, the criticism to the social constructionalism is explored to evaluate the weaknesses and strengths of this approach.
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