Description
Book SynopsisHow to approach social theory actively and tie it to practical work and method has long been a challenge for professional scholars and students. Theory in Action explores the active use of theorising for constructing and generating new knowledge. With essays covering key aspects of social theory, this will prove hugely valuable to those at all levels conducting concrete research.
Table of ContentsList of figures About the Authors Chapter 1. Theory and theoretical operations Peter Sohlberg and Håkon Leiulfsrud 2. On the heuristic role of concepts in theorizing Richard Swedberg 3. Sociology and the power of (ordinary) language Willy Guneriussen 4. Weber’s ideal types: a sociological operation between theory and method Pål Strandbakken 5. Class operations and measures Håkon Leiulfsrud and Annick Prieur 6. Question-driven sociology and methodological contextualism Ragnvald Kalleberg 7. If not, why not and what if: asking counterfactual questions Göran Ahrne 8. Abduction – assessing fruitfulness and the construction of scientific concepts Roar Hagen 9. Theorising through comparative case studies Mette Andersson 10. Explanatory practices in sociology. An overview Willy Martinussen 11. A thick description of Robert K. Merton’s middle range theory – manifest properties and latent ambivalence Peter Sohlberg Index
