Chomsky (1965: 4) states, "To study actual linguistic performance, we must consider the interaction of a variety of factors, of which the underlying competence of the speaker-hearer is only one. In this respect, study of language is no different from empirical investigation of other complex phenomena." This seems to be Chomsky's consistent position over the years. Chomsky (1988), for example, states as in (66) and Schütze (1996) reports as in (67).

(66)As for my own methods of investigation, I do not really have any. The only method of investigation is to look hard at a serious problem and try to get some ideas as to what might be the explanation for it, meanwhile keeping an open mind about all sorts of other possibilities. Well, that is not a method. It is just being reasonable, and so far as I know, that is the only way to deal with any problem, whether it is a problem in your work as a quantum physicist or whatever. (Chomsky 1988: 190)

(67)Chomsky (personal communication) believes that research practice in linguistics ought to follow that in the natural sciences, where (in contrast to the social sciences) "almost no one devotes attention to 'methodology'." Obviously, I disagree. (Schütze 1996: 210, note 1)

In chapter 5 of my book, I present my own view in relation to Chomsky's view stated above.