Approaches to Social Theory

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Publisher : Russell Sage Foundation
ISBN 13 : 1610443616
Total Pages : 409 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (14 download)

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Book Synopsis Approaches to Social Theory by : Stewart Lindenberg

Download or read book Approaches to Social Theory written by Stewart Lindenberg and published by Russell Sage Foundation. This book was released on 1986-07-18 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Many social scientists lament the increasing fragmentation of their discipline, the trend toward specialization and away from engagement with overarching issues. Opportunities to transcend established subdisciplinary boundaries are rare, but the extraordinary conference that gave rise to this volume was one such occasion. The W. I. Thomas and Florian Znaniecki Memorial Conference on Social Theory, held at the University of Chicago, brought together an outstanding array of scholars representing a variety of contending approaches to social theory. In panels, presentations, and general discussions, these scholars confronted one another in the context of an entire range of approaches. But as readers of this deftly edited collection will discover, the conference was more than a forum for abstract theoretical debate. These papers and discussions represent original scholarly contributions that exemplify orientations to social theory by examining real problems in the functioning of society—from large-scale economic growth and decline to the dynamics of interpersonal interaction. By exploring a few central issues in different ways, this unique conference worked through some lively theoretical incompatibilities and established genuine potential for communication, for complementary and collaborative effort at the core of sociology. The excitement of that dialogue, and the intellectual vitality it generated, are captured for the reader in Approaches to Social Theory. "Meaty presentations and confrontations of ideas by people whose views we respect...Recommended to anyone interested in the current state of social theory." —Contemporary Sociology

Social Mechanisms

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Author :
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780521596879
Total Pages : 356 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (968 download)

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Book Synopsis Social Mechanisms by : Peter Hedström

Download or read book Social Mechanisms written by Peter Hedström and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1998-01-13 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The advancement of social theory requires an analytical approach that systematically seeks to explicate the social mechanisms that generate and explain observed associations between events. These essays, written by prominent social scientists, advance criticisms of current trends in social theory and suggest alternative approaches. The mechanism approach calls attention to an intermediary level of analysis in between pure description and story-telling, on the one hand, and grand theorizing and universal social laws, on the other. For social theory to be of use for the working social scientist, it must attain a high level of precision and provide a toolbox from which middle range theories can be constructed.

Theoretical Sociology

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Publisher : SAGE Publications
ISBN 13 : 1483310825
Total Pages : 289 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (833 download)

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Book Synopsis Theoretical Sociology by : Jonathan H. Turner

Download or read book Theoretical Sociology written by Jonathan H. Turner and published by SAGE Publications. This book was released on 2013-07-11 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What can sociological theory tell us about the basic forces that shape our world? With clarity and authority, Theoretical Sociology: A Concise Introduction to Twelve Sociological Theories, by leading theorist Jonathan H. Turner, seeks to answer this question through a brief, yet in-depth examination of twelve major sociological theories. Readers are given an opportunity to explore the foundational premise of each theory and key elements that make it distinctive. The book draws on biographical background, analysis of important works, historical influences, and other critical insights to help readers make the important connections between these monumental sociological theories and the social world in which we live. This concise resource is a perfect complement to any course that seeks to examine both classic and contemporary sociological theory.

Using Social Theory

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Publisher : SAGE
ISBN 13 : 9780761943778
Total Pages : 208 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (437 download)

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Book Synopsis Using Social Theory by : Michael Pryke

Download or read book Using Social Theory written by Michael Pryke and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2003-09-03 with total page 208 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The chapters in this innovative guide share a common belief that thinking alongside ideas is an integral part of the research process. This book encourages the researcher to think through three key moments of the research process: the production of a research question; fieldwork; and analysis and writing.

Sociological Theory, Methods, and Perspectives

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781536135145
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (351 download)

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Book Synopsis Sociological Theory, Methods, and Perspectives by : Joseph H. Michalski

Download or read book Sociological Theory, Methods, and Perspectives written by Joseph H. Michalski and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The current book contributes to the complicated discussion of knowledge construction by demonstrating how social scientific theories of diverse subject matter in sociology, criminology, and psychology can be contextualized and operationalized from distinct paradigms. Each chapter introduces one or more theoretical perspectives as the authors examine, explicitly or implicitly, the epistemological foundations for how one might evaluate the main concepts and establish valid truth claims. No one pathway to such truth claims exists, as the diverse perspectives that these authors embrace shall demonstrate. The monograph thus intentionally includes a range of theoretical perspectives and methodologies to highlight the case for what might be designated as scientific equifinality. In effect, the notion suggests that more than one pathway can be selected to help observers move closer and closer to the truth, but each perspective shares in common the assumption that rigorous methodologies are required that transcend mere personal opinion. The edited volume, therefore, promotes the value of intellectual diversity among social scientists, while concurrently building upon a common theme. Despite the limitations of observing the social world from their peculiar social locations, analysts nevertheless can do a more effective job of wrestling with the truth by employing rigorous methodologies connected to their theoretical stances. As argued in the first chapter, it requires the overcoming of several inertial conditions that often inhibit the search for deep knowledge of the subject matter. Subsequent chapters demonstrate that, in a variety of creative ways, researchers can develop and implement innovative approaches to the study of the social world. The book stands resolutely in opposition to the post-truth narrative currently in vogue, where no one can claim to have any more reliable or credible information than anyone else.

Theory for the Working Sociologist

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Publisher : Columbia University Press
ISBN 13 : 0231543697
Total Pages : 254 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (315 download)

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Book Synopsis Theory for the Working Sociologist by : Fabio Rojas

Download or read book Theory for the Working Sociologist written by Fabio Rojas and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2017-04-04 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Theory for the Working Sociologist makes social theory easy to understand by revealing sociology's hidden playbook. Fabio Rojas argues that sociologists use four different theoretical "moves" when they try to explain the social world: how groups defend their status, how people strategically pursue their goals, how values and institutions support each other, and how people create their social reality. Rojas uses famous sociological studies to illustrate these four types of theory and show how students and researchers may apply them to their interests. The guiding light of the book is the concept of the "social mechanism," which clearly and succinctly links causes and effects in social life. Drawing on dozens of empirical studies that define modern sociology and focusing on the nuts and bolts of social explanation, Rojas reveals how areas of study within the field of sociology that at first glance seem dissimilar are, in fact, linked by shared theoretical underpinnings. In doing so, he elucidates classical and contemporary theory, and connects both to essential sociological findings made throughout the history of the field. Aimed at undergraduate students, graduate students, journalists, and interested general readers who want a more formal way to understand social life, Theory for the Working Sociologist presents the underlying themes of sociological thought using contemporary research and plain language.

Constructing Social Theories

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Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 0226774848
Total Pages : 320 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Constructing Social Theories by : Arthur L. Stinchcombe

Download or read book Constructing Social Theories written by Arthur L. Stinchcombe and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1987-07-15 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Constructing Social Theories presents to the reader a range of strategies for constructing theories, and in a clear, rigorous, and imaginative manner, illustrates how they can be applied. Arthur L. Stinchcombe argues that theories should not be invented in the abstract—or applied a priori to a problem—but should be dictated by the nature of the data to be explained. This work was awarded the Sorokin prize by the American Sociological Association as the book that made an outstanding contribution to the progress of sociology in 1970.

Social Theory

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Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317329716
Total Pages : 402 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (173 download)

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Book Synopsis Social Theory by : Carsten Bagge Laustsen

Download or read book Social Theory written by Carsten Bagge Laustsen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-03-27 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This textbook offers a new approach to understanding social theory. Framed around paired theoretical perspectives on a series of sociological problems, the book shows how distinctive viewpoints shed light on different facets of social phenomena. The book includes sociology’s "founding fathers", major 20th-century thinkers and recent voices such as Butler and Zizek. Philosophically grounded and focused on interpretation and analysis, the book provides a clear understanding of theory’s scope while developing students’ skills in evaluating, applying and comparing theories.

Theories of Social Innovation

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Author :
Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1786436892
Total Pages : 207 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (864 download)

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Book Synopsis Theories of Social Innovation by : Danielle Logue

Download or read book Theories of Social Innovation written by Danielle Logue and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2019 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As we grapple with how to respond to some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as inequality, poverty and climate change, there is growing global interest in ‘social innovation’ as a potential solution. But what exactly is ‘social innovation’? This book describes three ways to theorise social innovation when seeking to manage and organize for both social and economic progress.

Social Theories of Risk

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Author :
Publisher : Praeger
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 440 pages
Book Rating : 4.F/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Social Theories of Risk by : Sheldon Krimsky

Download or read book Social Theories of Risk written by Sheldon Krimsky and published by Praeger. This book was released on 1992-08-30 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The social science approach to risk has matured over the past two decades, with distinct paradigms developing in disciplines such as anthropology, economics, geography, psychology, and sociology. Social Theories of Risk traces the intellectual origins and histories of twelve of the established and emerging paradigms from the perspective of their principal proponents. Each contributor examines the underlying assumptions of his or her paradigm, the foundational issue it seeks to address, and likely future directions of research. Taken together, these essays illustrate that the principal achievement of social sciences has been to broaden the debate about risk beyond the narrow, technical considerations of engineers and the physical and life sciences. The authors conclude that expert knowledge is not value-free, that public perceptions of and attitudes toward risks vary according to a wide range of social, psychological, and cultural variables, and that public opposition to particular risks cannot be assuaged by technical fixes. The essays reveal the circuitous paths that lead people to the study of risk, highlight how these paths have crossed and discuss some of the seminal influences on individuals and the field in general. Social Theories of Risk presents a broad, retrospective view of the state of the theory in the social sciences, written by many who have been on the cutting edge of risk research since its early days. The book includes both established and novel perspectives that address the theoretical foundations of the field and reflect what we know about risk as a psychological, social, and cultural phenomenon. The collection of papers not only informs us of the tributary ideas that spawned the social studies of risk, but also how the field has matured. The biographical flavor of the essays provides fascinating reading for established members of the field, and a valuable entree for newcomers. It is an ideal college text for courses in the history of science, environmental policy, and science, technology, and society, as well as the burgeoning array of more specialized courses in risk assessment and management.

After Parsons

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Publisher : Russell Sage Foundation
ISBN 13 : 1610442156
Total Pages : 364 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (14 download)

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Book Synopsis After Parsons by : Renee C. Fox

Download or read book After Parsons written by Renee C. Fox and published by Russell Sage Foundation. This book was released on 2005-08-25 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Esteemed twentieth-century sociologist Talcott Parsons sought to develop a comprehensive and coherent scheme for sociology that could be applied to every society and historical epoch, and address every aspect of human social organization and culture. His theory of social action has exerted enormous influence across a wide range of social science disciplines. After Parsons, edited by Renée Fox, Victor Lidz, and Harold Bershady, provides a critical reexamination of Parsons' theory in light of historical changes in the world and advances in sociological thought since his death. After Parsons is a fresh examination of Parsons' theoretical undertaking, its significance for social scientific thought, and its implications for present-day empirical research. The book is divided into four parts: Social Institutions and Social Processes; Societal Community and Modernization; Sociology and Culture; and the Human Condition. The chapters deal with Parsons' notions of societal community, societal evolution, and modernization and modernity. After Parsons addresses major themes of enduring relevance, including social differentiation and cultural diversity, social solidarity, universalism and particularism, and trust and affect in social life. The contributors explore these topics in a wide range of social institutions—family and kinship, economy, polity, the law, medicine, art, and religion—and within the context of contemporary developments such as globalization, the power of the United States as an "empireless empire," the emergence of forms of fundamentalism, the upsurge of racial, tribal, and ethnic conflicts, and the increasing occurence of deterministic and positivistic thought. Rather than simply celebrating Parsons and his accomplishments, the contributors to After Parsons rethink and reformulate his ideas to place them on more solid foundations, extend their scope, and strengthen their empirical insights. After Parsons constitutes the work of a distinguished roster of American and European sociologists who find Parsons' theory of action a valuable resource for addressing contemporary issues in sociological theory. All of the essays in this volume take elements of Parsons' theory and critique, adapt, refine, or extend them to gain fresh purchase on problems that confront sociologists today.

Theories of Social Order

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Publisher : Stanford Social Science
ISBN 13 : 9780804758734
Total Pages : 350 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (587 download)

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Book Synopsis Theories of Social Order by : Michael Hechter

Download or read book Theories of Social Order written by Michael Hechter and published by Stanford Social Science. This book was released on 2009 with total page 350 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This newly expanded and reorganized collection of readings provides a compelling exploration of what arguably remains the single most important problem in social theory: the problem of social order.

Encyclopedia of Social Theory

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Publisher : Psychology Press
ISBN 13 : 0415290465
Total Pages : 752 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (152 download)

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Book Synopsis Encyclopedia of Social Theory by : Austin Harrington

Download or read book Encyclopedia of Social Theory written by Austin Harrington and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2006 with total page 752 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Encyclopedia of Social Theory cuts across all relevant disciplines, theories, approaches, and schools to present the latest information and research.

A Beginner's Guide to Social Theory

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Publisher : SAGE
ISBN 13 : 9780761965336
Total Pages : 292 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (653 download)

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Book Synopsis A Beginner's Guide to Social Theory by : Shaun Best

Download or read book A Beginner's Guide to Social Theory written by Shaun Best and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2003-02-24 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Offering a comprehensive overview of social theory from classical sociology to the present day, this text guides students through the work of Durkheim, Marx and Weber, feminism, postmodernism and contemporary thinkers like Foucault.

Modern Social Theory

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Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317325265
Total Pages : 219 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (173 download)

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Book Synopsis Modern Social Theory by : Ian Craib

Download or read book Modern Social Theory written by Ian Craib and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-08-12 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The revised edition of this widely acclaimed textbook provides a clear, accessible and comprehensive introduction to modern social theory.As with the first edition, the book is based around the themes of structure and action. After the introductory chapters which examine the nature of theory and its role in the social world, the book then turns to theories of action and the inability of those theories to comprehend social structures in a coherent way.Part 1 covers: Parson's structural-functionalism and the development of conlict theory and neofunctionalism; rational choice theory; symbolic interactionism; ethnomethodology and structuration theory.Part 2 looks at structuralism, structuralist Marxism, and the development of post-structuralist and postmodernist theory.Part 3 examines Critical Theory and the work of Jurgen Habermas.In conclusion, Ian Craib discusses current trends in theory and what might be expected in the future.This second edition has been revised throughout. There are new chapters on rational choice theory and structuration theory and existing chapters have been extended to deal with the development of neofunctionalism, postmodernism and the recent works of Habermas as well as recent developments in other approaches.Throughout, the aim of the book is to demystify a diffcult subject area, emphasising the practical and everyday nature of theoretical thinking in the context of making sense of a rapidly changing world. The late Ian Craib was Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Essex.

Sociological Theory in Use (RLE Social Theory)

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Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317657195
Total Pages : 265 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (176 download)

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Book Synopsis Sociological Theory in Use (RLE Social Theory) by : Kenneth Menzies

Download or read book Sociological Theory in Use (RLE Social Theory) written by Kenneth Menzies and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-08-21 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Central to most sociologists’ self-image is the claim that their theories are based on research. However, using a random sample of 680 articles appearing in major American, British and Canadian journals, Dr Menzies shows that in some areas of sociology the wide gap between theory and research means that much of sociological theory is virtually untested. He explains how theory is embodied in eight particular types of research, critically examines these research theories, and contrasts them with the positions of modern theorists. The sample of journal articles also permits a comparison of British, American and Canadian sociology. By contrasting on how researchers us theories, Dr Menzies is able to reassess several theories. For instance, symbolic interactionist research uses embedded causal claims and stands in a dialectical relationship to other sociological research, while the research version of conflict theory depends on external causes to explain social change. The implications of using statistical techniques like factor analysis and regression are also considered in relation to the form of explanation.

Social Theory

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Publisher : SAGE
ISBN 13 : 9780761970880
Total Pages : 322 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (78 download)

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Book Synopsis Social Theory by : John Scott

Download or read book Social Theory written by John Scott and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2006 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a comprehensive, critical review of social theory that places leading contributions in their larger context. Written predominantly for students, the scope and range of the subjects and authors dealt with results in one of the most comprehensive introductions to social theory published to date. Ranging from the philosophical foundations of sociology and the discovery of `the social' to distinctive sociological approaches, to the significance of issues pertaining to gender and patriarchy, to questions of modernity and post-modernity, the book is comprehensive in subject matter.