Theory in action : theoretical constructionism / edited by Peter Sohlberg, Hakon Leiulfsrud.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Sohlberg, Peter, editor.

Leiulfsrud, Hȧkon, editor.

Series:

Studies in critical social sciences ; Volume 91.

Studies in Critical Social Sciences, 1573-4234 ; Volume 91

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social sciences--Philosophy.

Social sciences.

Social sciences--Methodology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (215 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden, Netherlands ; Boston, [Massachusetts] : Brill, 2017.

Summary:

How to approach social theory actively, with a theoretical lens analogous to the use of methods, has been a challenge for professional scholars and students alike. Rather than treating social theory in an iconic manner, we explore the active use of theorizing for constructing and generating new knowledge. Examples of theoretical constructions and topics discussed include: the heuristic role of concepts; theoretical construction work; the importance of question-driven sociology; counterfactual reasoning; the power of ordinary language; an inventory of explanatory practices in social science; abduction; comparative case studies; class operations and the potential for using Merton’s middle range theory. Theory in Action is highly relevant for researchers and students interested in constructing theories in the social sciences. Contributors are: Göran Ahrne, Mette Andersson, Roar Hagen, Willy Guneriussen, Ragnvald Kalleberg, Håkon Leiulfsrud, Willy Martinussen, Annick Prieur, Peter Sohlberg, Pål Strandbakken, and Richard Swedberg.

Contents:

Preliminary Material / Peter Sohlberg and Håkon Leiulfsrud

Theory and Theoretical Operations / Peter Sohlberg and Håkon Leiulfsrud

On the Heuristic Role of Concepts in Theorizing / Richard Swedberg

Sociology and the Power of (Ordinary) Language / Willy Guneriussen

Weber’s Ideal Types: A Sociological Operation between Theory and Method / Pål Strandbakken

Class Operations and Measures / Håkon Leiulfsrud and Annick Prieur

Question-Driven Sociology and Methodological Contextualism / Ragnvald Kalleberg

If Not, Why Not and What If: Asking Counterfactual Questions / Göran Ahrne

Abduction – Assessing Fruitfulness and the Construction of Scientific Concepts / Roar Hagen

Theorizing through Comparative Case Studies / Mette Andersson

Explanatory Practices in Sociology: An Overview / Willy Martinussen

A Thick Description of Robert K. Merton’s Middle Range Theory – Manifest Properties and Latent Ambivalence / Peter Sohlberg

Index / Peter Sohlberg and Håkon Leiulfsrud.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

90-04-31418-0

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004314184 DOI