Adorno sought to repurpose empirical social research for critical theory.

Evidence

Before all this began, however, Adorno attempted in his introductory lecture to snatch empirical social research back from the `research system’ and rescue it to serve a theory of society which was resolutely critical of the humanistic tradition of German sociology. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 1927

Categorization

• XREF: Adorno’s contested relationship with empirical research recurs as a major theme in Critical Theory studies; connects to his later ‘Soziologie und empirische Forschung’ debate with Popper. — connects to: Adorno conceived theory and empirical research as mutually constitutive via the dialectical method. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 990; Adorno insisted theory must precede empirical research, even if research is never reached. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 994; Adorno drafted up to a hundred questionnaire items by translating texts into F-scale questions — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1577 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Adorno came to see critical reflection and team-based empirical research as practically irreconcilable #qualifies (0.85) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 2114