ABSTRACT
Towards the chronological end of that incredibly vibrant, blooming symphony of thought, creativity, scientific advancement and knowledge development, a new era of technological advancements in manufacturing and production propelled first Britain, then the rest of Europe and the United States, into a new urban, mechanized way of life that left agrarian society behind. The Industrial Revolution is different in kind than the political revolutions in France and America. For one thing, in every country in which the Industrial Revolution occurred, the revolution unfolded. Information and knowledge during the Industrial Revolution were more widely available than ever before and were much sought after and prized among the middle classes. During the second half of the Industrial Revolution, school systems were organized. Twentieth century events, notably the various wars, brought about social changes that engendered new streams of social science research, including mixed methods research with its unique epistemological challenges.
