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Social Science Theory Addresses: Unpacking the Core Questions of Human Society
Introduction:
What drives human behavior? Why do societies structure themselves the way they do? How do power dynamics shape our interactions? These are fundamental questions that social science theories endeavor to address. This comprehensive guide delves into the core concerns tackled by social science theory, exploring its diverse approaches and the profound impact it has on our understanding of the world. We'll unpack key theoretical frameworks, demonstrating how they illuminate crucial aspects of human interaction, social structures, and societal change. Get ready to embark on a journey of intellectual exploration into the fascinating world of social science theory.
H2: The Scope of Social Science Theory: What Does It Cover?
Social science theory is a broad umbrella encompassing multiple disciplines like sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, and economics. Each discipline employs unique methodologies and theoretical lenses, yet they share a common goal: to understand and explain the social world. Theories within these fields address a vast array of topics including:
H3: Social Structures and Institutions: Theories explore how institutions like families, governments, and education systems shape individual behavior and societal outcomes. Functionalist perspectives, for example, examine the functions of these institutions in maintaining social order, while conflict theories analyze how they contribute to inequality and power imbalances.
H3: Social Interaction and Behavior: From micro-level interactions between individuals to macro-level societal processes, social science theory delves into the dynamics of human behavior. Symbolic interactionism, for instance, focuses on how individuals create meaning through their interactions, while social exchange theory examines how relationships are built and maintained through a cost-benefit analysis.
H3: Social Change and Transformation: Societies are not static; they are constantly evolving. Social science theories aim to explain the forces that drive social change, including technological advancements, cultural shifts, and political movements. Modernization theory, for instance, examines the transition from traditional to modern societies, while world-systems theory analyzes global inequalities and their impact on social change.
H3: Power, Inequality, and Social Justice: Many social science theories directly address issues of power, inequality, and social justice. Feminist theories analyze gender inequality and patriarchy, while critical race theory explores the intersection of race and power in shaping social structures and experiences.
H2: Major Theoretical Frameworks in Social Science:
Several dominant theoretical frameworks shape social science inquiry. Understanding these frameworks is crucial to comprehending the diverse approaches to studying human society.
H3: Functionalism: This perspective views society as a complex system with interconnected parts working together to maintain stability and order. It emphasizes social order and the functions of social institutions.
H3: Conflict Theory: This theory focuses on power struggles, inequality, and social conflict as driving forces of societal change. It highlights the competition for scarce resources and the ways in which dominant groups maintain their power.
H3: Symbolic Interactionism: This micro-level perspective emphasizes the role of symbols and meaning in shaping social interaction. It focuses on how individuals interpret and construct meaning through their interactions with others.
H3: Rational Choice Theory: This theory assumes that individuals act rationally to maximize their own self-interest. It analyzes social phenomena as outcomes of individual choices based on cost-benefit calculations.
H3: Feminist Theory: This diverse body of thought challenges traditional power structures and gender inequalities, focusing on the experiences and perspectives of women.
H2: The Practical Applications of Social Science Theory:
Social science theory is not merely an academic exercise; it has significant practical applications across various fields. It informs policy-making in areas such as:
H3: Social Welfare: Understanding poverty, inequality, and social exclusion relies heavily on social science theories, guiding the development of effective social welfare programs.
H3: Public Health: Theories of social behavior and social networks are crucial for designing effective public health campaigns and addressing health disparities.
H3: Criminal Justice: Understanding crime and deviance draws upon sociological theories to inform strategies for crime prevention and rehabilitation.
H3: Education: Social science theories help in understanding learning processes, educational inequalities, and the effectiveness of different educational interventions.
H2: The Ongoing Evolution of Social Science Theory:
Social science theories are not static; they are constantly evolving and adapting to address new challenges and societal changes. Emerging trends include interdisciplinary approaches, the increasing use of quantitative methods, and a greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion in research.
Conclusion:
Social science theory provides a crucial framework for understanding the complexities of human society. By employing diverse theoretical perspectives and rigorous methodologies, it sheds light on fundamental questions about human behavior, social structures, and societal change. Its practical applications are vast, impacting policy-making, social interventions, and our understanding of the world around us. As society evolves, so too will the theories that attempt to explain it, ensuring a dynamic and ever-developing field of inquiry.
FAQs:
1. What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis in social science? A theory is a broad explanation of a phenomenon, supported by evidence, while a hypothesis is a testable prediction derived from a theory.
2. Can social science theories be proven definitively? No, social science theories are not proven definitively like scientific laws. Instead, they are supported or refuted through empirical evidence and ongoing research.
3. How do social scientists collect data to test their theories? Social scientists use a range of methods, including surveys, interviews, experiments, observations, and analysis of existing data.
4. Are all social science theories equally valid? No, the validity of a social science theory depends on its explanatory power, empirical support, and its ability to generate useful insights.
5. How can I learn more about specific social science theories? Start by exploring introductory textbooks and journal articles related to the specific theories or areas of social science that interest you. Many universities also offer online resources and courses.
social science theory addresses: How to Build Social Science Theories Pamela J. Shoemaker, James William Tankard, Jr., Dominic L. Lasorsa, 2003-12-10 Click ′Additional Materials′ to read the foreword by Jerald Hage As straightforward as its title, How to Build Social Science Theories sidesteps the well-traveled road of theoretical examination by demonstrating how new theories originate and how they are elaborated. Essential reading for students of social science research, this book traces theories from their most rudimentary building blocks (terminology and definitions) through multivariable theoretical statements, models, the role of creativity in theory building, and how theories are used and evaluated. Authors Pamela J. Shoemaker, James William Tankard, Jr., and Dominic L. Lasorsa intend to improve research in many areas of the social sciences by making research more theory-based and theory-oriented. The book begins with a discussion of concepts and their theoretical and operational definitions. It then proceeds to theoretical statements, including hypotheses, assumptions, and propositions. Theoretical statements need theoretical linkages and operational linkages; this discussion begins with bivariate relationships, as well as three-variable, four-variable, and further multivariate relationships. The authors also devote chapters to the creative component of theory-building and how to evaluate theories. How to Build Social Science Theories is a sophisticated yet readable analysis presented by internationally known experts in social science methodology. It is designed primarily as a core text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in communication theory. It will also be a perfect addition to any course dealing with theory and research methodology across the social sciences. Additionally, professional researchers will find it an indispensable guide to the genesis, dissemination, and evaluation of social science theories. |
social science theory addresses: Theory-Based Data Analysis for the Social Sciences Carol S. Aneshensel, 2013 This book presents the elaboration model for the multivariate analysis of observational quantitative data. This model entails the systematic introduction of third variables to the analysis of a focal relationship between one independent and one dependent variable to ascertain whether an inference of causality is justified. Two complementary strategies are used: an exclusionary strategy that rules out alternative explanations such as spuriousness and redundancy with competing theories, and an inclusive strategy that connects the focal relationship to a network of other relationships, including the hypothesized causal mechanisms linking the focal independent variable to the focal dependent variable. The primary emphasis is on the translation of theory into a logical analytic strategy and the interpretation of results. The elaboration model is applied with case studies drawn from newly published research that serve as prototypes for aligning theory and the data analytic plan used to test it; these studies are drawn from a wide range of substantive topics in the social sciences, such as emotion management in the workplace, subjective age identification during the transition to adulthood, and the relationship between religious and paranormal beliefs. The second application of the elaboration model is in the form of original data analysis presented in two Analysis Journals that are integrated throughout the text and implement the full elaboration model. Using real data, not contrived examples, the text provides a step-by-step guide through the process of integrating theory with data analysis in order to arrive at meaningful answers to research questions. |
social science theory addresses: Social Science Research Anol Bhattacherjee, 2012-04-01 This book is designed to introduce doctoral and graduate students to the process of conducting scientific research in the social sciences, business, education, public health, and related disciplines. It is a one-stop, comprehensive, and compact source for foundational concepts in behavioral research, and can serve as a stand-alone text or as a supplement to research readings in any doctoral seminar or research methods class. This book is currently used as a research text at universities on six continents and will shortly be available in nine different languages. |
social science theory addresses: A Practical Guide to Theoretical Frameworks for Social Science Research Andrea J. Bingham, Robert Mitchell, Daria S. Carter, 2024-02-13 This practical book offers a guide to finding, choosing, and applying theoretical frameworks to social sciences research, and provides researchers with the scaffolding needed to reflect on their philosophical orientations and better situate their work in the existing landscape of empirical and theoretical knowledge. Using a multifaceted approach, the book provides clear definitions, primary tenets, historical context, highlights of the challenges and contemporary discussion and, perhaps more importantly, concrete and successful examples of studies that have drawn on and incorporated each theoretical framework. The authors define and explain the connections among such concepts as ontology, epistemology, paradigm, theory, theoretical frameworks, conceptual frameworks, and research methodology; describe the process of finding and effectively using theoretical and conceptual frameworks in research; and offer brief overviews of particular theories within the following disciplines: sociology, psychology, education, leadership, public policy, political science, economics, organizational studies, and business. The book also has a dedicated chapter on critical theories, and for each theory, provides a definition, explores how the theory is useful for researchers, discusses the background and foundations, outlines key terms and concepts, presents examples of theoretical applications, and gives an overview of strengths and limitations. This book offers a useful starting point for any researcher interested in better situating their work in existing conceptual and theoretical knowledge, but it will be especially useful for graduate students and early career researchers who are looking for clear definitions of complex terms and concepts, and for an introduction to useful theories across disciplines. |
social science theory addresses: Human Behavior in the Social Environment Bruce A. Thyer, Catherine N. Dulmus, Karen M. Sowers, 2012-07-23 An accessible and engaging guide to the study of human behavior in the social environment, covering every major theoretical approach Providing an overview of the major human behavioral theories used to guide social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, and organizations, Human Behavior in the Social Environment examines a different theoretical approach in each chapter from its historical and conceptual origins to its relevance to social work and clinical applications. Each chapter draws on a theoretical approach to foster understanding of normative individual human development and the etiology of dysfunctional behavior, as well as to provide guidance in the application of social work intervention. Edited by a team of scholars, Human Behavior in the Social Environment addresses the Council on Social Work Education's required competencies for accreditation (EPAS) and explores: Respondent Learning theory Operant Learning theory Cognitive-Behavioral theory Attachment theory Psychosocial theory Person-Centered theory Genetic theory Ecosystems theory Small Group theory Family Systems theory Organizational theory |
social science theory addresses: Critical Theory of International Politics Steven C. Roach, 2013-05-13 Critical international theory encompasses several distinct, radical approaches that focus on identity, difference, hegemonic power, and order. As an applied theory, critical international theory draws on critical social theories to shed light on international processes and global transformations. While this approach has led to increasing interest in formulating an empirically relevant critical international theory, it has also revealed the difficulties of applying critical theory to international politics. What are these difficulties and problems? And how can we move beyond them? This book addresses these questions by investigating the intellectual currents and key debates of critical theory, from Kant and Hegel to Habermas and Derrida, and the recent work of critical international theory, including Robert Cox and Andrew Linklater. By drawing on these debates, the book formulates an original theory of complementarity that brings together critical theory and critical international theory. It argues that complementarity—a governing principle in international law and politics—offers a conceptual framework for working toward two goals: engaging the changing contexts and forms of resistance and redressing some of the difficulties of applying critical theory to international relations. In adopting three critical perspectives on complementarity to analyze the evolving social and political contexts of global justice, this book provides an essential resource for undergraduate and graduate students and scholars interested in the application of critical theory to international relations. |
social science theory addresses: A Handbook for Social Science Field Research Ellen Perecman, Sara R. Curran, 2006-01-24 This text contains a collection of essays and bibliographies providing both novice and experienced scholars with invaluable and accessible insights, as well as references to a select list of critical texts pertaining to a wide array of social science methods and practices useful when doing fieldwork. |
social science theory addresses: Evaluation Time Gail Vallance Barrington, Beverly Triana-Tremain, 2022-08-30 This book is an accessible, contemporary, and comprehensive guide to the concepts and practice of evaluation. Authors Gail Vallance Barrington and Beverly Triana-Tremain integrate new approaches and concerns, and classic frameworks with practical tools that readers can use to design evaluation studies. They show how evaluators measure whether the planned and implemented interventions or services are achieving their goals and objectives, while focusing on the questions most important to the community and organizations in which the evaluation takes place. The book stresses the role of critical and evaluative thinking, as well as self-reflection, and demonstrates the importance of context and equity in today’s turbulent environment, offering a new stance for evaluators to support global as well as local issues. |
social science theory addresses: The Extended Case Method Michael Burawoy, 2009-05-27 In this remarkable collection of essays, Michael Burawoy develops the extended case method by connecting his own experiences among workers of the world to the great transformations of the twentieth century—the rise and fall of the Soviet Union and its satellites, the reconstruction of U.S. capitalism, and the African transition to post-colonialism in Zambia. Burawoy's odyssey began in 1968 in the Zambian copper mines and proceeded to Chicago's South Side, where he worked as a machine operator and enjoyed a unique perspective on the stability of advanced capitalism. In the 1980s, this perspective was deepened by contrast with his work in diverse Hungarian factories. Surprised by the collapse of socialism in Hungary in 1989, he journeyed in 1991 to the Soviet Union, which by the end of the year had unexpectedly dissolved. He then spent the next decade studying how the working class survived the catastrophic collapse of the Soviet economy. These essays, presented with a perspective that has benefited from time and rich experience, offer ethnographers a theory and a method for developing novel understandings of epochal change. |
social science theory addresses: The Genial Gene Joan Roughgarden, 2009-04-20 Are selfishness and individuality—rather than kindness and cooperation—basic to biological nature? Does a selfish gene create universal sexual conflict? In The Genial Gene, Joan Roughgarden forcefully rejects these and other ideas that have come to dominate the study of animal evolution. Building on her brilliant and innovative book Evolution's Rainbow, in which she challenged accepted wisdom about gender identity and sexual orientation, Roughgarden upends the notion of the selfish gene and the theory of sexual selection and develops a compelling and controversial alternative theory called social selection. This scientifically rigorous, model-based challenge to an important tenet of neo-Darwinian theory emphasizes cooperation, elucidates the factors that contribute to evolutionary success in a gene pool or animal social system, and vigorously demonstrates that to identify Darwinism with selfishness and individuality misrepresents the facts of life as we now know them. |
social science theory addresses: Non-Western Theories of International Relations Alexei D. Voskressenski, 2016-12-16 This book addresses the problem of World Regional Studies and its components: regional complexes, regional subsystems and global regions. With an increasingly complex international system and the emergence of new actors, it is clear that the conceptual framing within the classical disciplines of IR, Political Theory, International Political Economy or Comparative Politics can no longer fully explain a number of processes originating from a tighter and intricate nexus between local, regional and global dimensions. World Regional Studies explains the emergence of new phenomena in international relations and world politics on a regional and predominantly non-Western regional level. How do non-Western societies react to the transformations of the global order? Is a non-Western democracy possible? Should we discuss the possibilities for the appearance of a non-Western IR theory or a new framework for analyzing de-westernized global development? This study, based on decade-long research and teaching post in World Regional Studies at MGIMO-University and Russian University of Humanitarian Studies (RGGU), seeks to answers these questions. |
social science theory addresses: The SAGE Handbook of Evaluation Ian Shaw, Jennifer C Greene, Melvin M Mark, 2006-07-10 ′This handbook thoroughly covers all aspects of evaluation, yet isn′t too technical to understand. It offers everything an organization needs to know to get the most out of evaluation′ - Nonprofit World `The Handbook succeeds in capturing and presenting evaluation′s extensive knowledge base within a global context. In so doing it provides a useful, coherent and definitive benchmark on the field′s diverse and dynamic purposes, practices, theories, approaches, issues, and challenges for the 21st century. The Handbook is an essential reference and map for any serious evaluation practitioner, scholar and student anywhere in the world′ - Michael Quinn Patton, author of Utilization-Focused Evaluation `Readers of this volume will find a set of texts that provide an evocative overview of contemporary thinking in the world of evaluation. This is not a book of simple tips. It does justice to the complex realities of evaluation practice by bringing together some of the best practitioners in the world to reflect on its current state. It is theoretically sophisticated yet eminently readable, anchored in evaluation as it is undertaken in a variety of domains. It is the kind of book that startles a little and makes you think. I highly recommend it′ - Murray Saunders, University of Lancaster In this comprehensive handbook, an examination of the complexities of contemporary evaluation contributes to the ongoing dialogue that arises in professional efforts to evaluate people-related programs, policies and practices. The SAGE Handbook of Evaluation is a unique and authoritative resource consisting of 25 chapters covering a range of evaluation theories and techniques in a single, accessible volume. With contributions from world-leading figures in their fields overseen by an eminent international editorial board, this handbook is an extensive and user-friendly resource organised in four coherent sections: Role and Purpose of Evaluation in Society; Evaluation as a Social Practice; The Practice of Evaluation; Domains of Evaluation Practice. The Handbook of Evaluation is written for practicing evaluators, academics, advanced postgraduate students and evaluation clients and offers a definitive, benchmark statement on evaluation theory and practice for the first decades of the 21st century. |
social science theory addresses: Adolescent Health Lynn Rew, 2005 Covering social morbidities and mortalities of adolescents, including suicide, smoking, high risk sexual activity, eating disorders, mental health problems and interpersonal violence, this volume consolidates multiple theoretical perspectives. |
social science theory addresses: Routledge Library Editions: Curriculum Various, 2021-07-09 Reissuing works originally published between 1971 and 1994, this collection includes books which offer a broad spectrum of views on curriculum, both within individual schools and the wider issues around curriculum development, reform and implementation. Some cover the debate surrounding the establishment of the national curriculum in the UK while others are a more international in scope. Many of these books go beyond theory to discuss practical issues of real curriculum changes at primary or secondary level. The Set includes books on cross-curricular topics such as citizenship and environment, and also guidance, careers, life skills and pastoral care in schools. A fantastic collection of education history with much still relevant today. |
social science theory addresses: Tradition and Innovation H.T. Wilson, 2023-11-06 First published in 1984 Tradition and Innovation by viewing Western civilization as a culture, puts the common perspectives of our major Western institutions in bolder relief. The author shows how the institutionalization of central modes of Western rationality-found in capitalism, industrialization, science, science - based technology, bureaucracy, the rule of law, the social and behavioral sciences-has created a culturally and historically unique form of collective life: advanced industrial society. Indicative of this development is the nature and meaning of the so-called innovative society itself, where rationality is increasingly seen to repose in institutions and organized structures rather than in individuals. Professor Wilson argues that this rationality is becoming traditionalized as a central artifact of our form of life, one which believes in the independent existence of the ‘facts of life’. This is borne out by the increasing autonomy of what professor Wilson calls ‘disembodied disciplined observation’, determined as it is to annihilate contemplation and reflection in its effort to reconstitute practice in its own image. This is an interesting read for students of sociology, political science, public administration, and social science in general. |
social science theory addresses: The SAGE Handbook of the History, Philosophy and Sociology of International Relations Andreas Gofas, Inanna Hamati-Ataya, Nicholas Onuf, Nick Onuf, 2018-07-30 Offering a panoramic view of the broad field of International Relations by integrating three distinct but interrelated foci. This handbook is a timely and innovative reference text for academics, researchers and practitioners in the world of International Relations. |
social science theory addresses: The German Historical School Yuichi Shionoya, 2000-10-12 With the increasing acceptance of evolutionary and institutional thinking among economists, general interest in the German Historical School has risen steadily during the last decade. This book traces the development and transformation of the School, covering its leading figures such as Adam Muller, Wilhelm Roscher, Karl Knies and Lujo Brentano. |
social science theory addresses: Economics Imperialism and Interdisciplinarity: The Watershed and After Ben Fine, 2023-10-20 In Economics Imperialism and Interdisciplinarity: The Watershed and After, Ben Fine selects and adds to his key articles tracking economics imperialism through three phases, focusing on the last decade of the third phase – anything goes as with freakonomics. Each article is accompanied by a preamble setting the context in which it appeared, with a new overall introduction and literature survey drawing out the overall significance for contemporary scholarship. Ranging over mainstream and heterodox economics, the disputes between them, the relationship between economics and other disciplines, and authors such as Lazear, Stiglitz and Akerlof, the accelerating presence of economics imperialism is documented alongside its perverse, critical neglect. The volume is imperative for those engaging in political economy across the social sciences. |
social science theory addresses: Elgar Companion to Neo-Schumpeterian Economics Horst Hanusch, Andreas Pyka, 2007 The Elgar Companion to Neo-Schumpeterian Economics is a cutting-edge collection of specially commissioned contributions highlighting not only the broad scope but also the common ground between all branches of this prolific and fast developing field of economics. For 25 years economists have been investigating industrial dynamics under the heading of neo-Schumpeterian economics, which has itself become a mature and widely acknowledged discipline in the fields of innovation, knowledge, growth and development economics. The Elgar Companion to Neo-Schumpeterian Economics surveys the achievements of the most visible scholars in this area. The contributions to the Companion give both a brief survey on the various fields of neo-Schumpeterian economics as well as insights into recent research at the scientific frontiers. The book also illustrates the potential of neo-Schumpeterian economics to overcome its so far self-imposed restriction to the domains of technology driven industry dynamics, and to become a comprehensive approach in economics suited for the analysis of development processes in all economic domains. Integrating both the public sector and financial markets, the book focusses on the co-evolutionary processes between the different domains. As a roadmap for the development of a comprehensive neo-Schumpeterian theory, the Companion will be an invaluable source of reference for researchers in the fields of industrial dynamics and economic growth, and academics and scholars of economics generally. PhD students will find the Companion an indispensable general introduction to the field of neo-Schumpeterian economics. It will also appeal to politicians and consultants engaged in national and international policy as the Companion deals with the highly important and ever topical phenomena of economic development. |
social science theory addresses: Adult and Continuing Education: Liberal adult education (part 1) Peter Jarvis, Colin Griffin, 2003 Depicting the ways that adult education has evolved as society has changed and how it has been incorporated into lifelong learning, this is a truly unique set that puts a stamp on an exciting field and important, far-reaching issues. These five volumes represent a great advance to scholars, as this is the first comprehensive overview of the field.The set draws on books, journals, reports and historical papers to map the vast field of education for adults. The writings included in the set have influenced the development of both the practice and the study of adult education from the Guilds to vocational education, distance learning and leisure learning. The collection also covers the recent emergence of corporations as new providers of education for adults with the corporate classroom, corporate universities and consultancies.A detailed index and new introduction by the editor will help the reader navigate this wealth of diverse material. |
social science theory addresses: Practising Social Work Research Rick Csiernik, Rachel Birnbaum, 2024-06-03 Research skills are as critical to social work practitioners as skills in individual and group counselling, policy analysis, and community development. Adopting strategies similar to those used in direct practice courses, this book integrates research with social work practice, and in so doing promotes an understanding and appreciation of the research process. The third edition of Practising Social Work Research comprises twenty-seven case studies that illustrate different research approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, single-subject, and mixed methods. The third edition also adopts a greater equity, diversity, and inclusivity focus than the previous editions. Through the use of applied, real-life examples, the authors demonstrate the processes of conceptualization, operationalization, sampling, data collection and processing, and implementation. Designed to help the student and practitioner become more comfortable with research procedures, Practising Social Work Research capitalizes on the strengths that social work students bring to assessment and problem solving. |
social science theory addresses: Knowledge and the Social Sciences David S. Goldblatt, 2004 Knowledge and the Social Sciences: Theory, Method, Practice looks at the role of the social sciences in explaining and exploring what has been called the explosion of knowledge in the contemporary world. |
social science theory addresses: Health Communication Renata Schiavo, 2013-10-07 Now in its second edition, Health Communication: From Theory to Practice provides a comprehensive introduction to theory, intervention design, current issues, and special topics in health communication. The book also represents a hands-on guide to program development, implementation, and evaluation. This second edition further emphasizes the importance of a people-centered and participatory approach to health communication interventions, which takes into account key social determinants of health as well as the interconnection of various health and social fields. While maintaining a strong focus on the importance of behavioral, social, and organizational results as key outcomes of health communication interventions, this second edition also includes new or updated information, theoretical models, resources, and case studies on: Health equity Urban health New media Emergency and risk communication Strategic partnerships in health communication Policy communication and public advocacy Cultural competence Health literacy The evaluation of health communication interventions To access a companion website with instructor resources (PowerPoint presentations for all chapters, sample assignments, and other resources), please visit www.wiley.com/go/schiavo2e This title is also available as a mobile App from MedHand Mobile Libraries. Buy it now from iTunes, Google Play or the MedHand Store. |
social science theory addresses: Theories of Choice Stefan Grundmann, Philipp Hacker, 2021 This book provides an in-depth discussion of the promises and perils of specific types of theories of choice. It shows how the selection of a specific theory of choice can make a difference for concrete legal questions, in particular in the regulation of the digital economy or in choosing between market, firm, or network. |
social science theory addresses: Racial Theories in Social Science Sean Elias, Joe R. Feagin, 2016-04-14 Racial Theories in Social Science: A Systemic Racism Critique provides a critique of the white racial framing and lack of systemic-racism analysis prevalent in past and present mainstream race theory. As this book demonstrates, mainstream racial analysis, and social analysis more generally, remain stunted and uncritical because of this unhealthy white framing of knowledge and evasion or downplaying of institutional, structural, and systemic racism. In response to ineffective social science analyses of racial matters, this book presents a counter-approach---systemic racism theory. The foundation of this theoretical perspective lies in the critical insights and perspectives of African Americans and other people of color who have long challenged biased white-framed perspectives and practices and the racially oppressive and exclusionary institutions and social systems created by whites over several centuries. |
social science theory addresses: The Soul of the German Historical School Yuichi Shionoya, 2006-01-20 This volume is a collection of my essays on Gustav von Schmoller (1838– 1917), Max Weber (1864–1920), and Joseph Alois Schumpeter (1883–1950), published during the past fifteen years. These three intellectual giants are connected with the German Historical School of Economics in different ways. In the history of economics, the German Historical School has been described as a heterodox group of economic researchers who flourished in the Germ- speaking world throughout the nineteenth century. The definition of a “school” is always problematic. Even if the core of a certain idea were identified in the continuous and discontinuous process of the filiation and ramification of thought, it is still possible to trace its predecessors, successors, and sympathizers in different directions, creating an amorphous entity of a school. It is beyond question, however, that Schmoller was the leader of the younger German Historical School, the genuine school with a sociological 1 reality. Schmoller was indeed the towering figure of the Historical School at its zenith. |
social science theory addresses: Comprehensive Handbook of Social Work and Social Welfare, Human Behavior in the Social Environment , 2008-05-16 Comprehensive Handbook of Social Work and Social Welfare, Volume 2: The Profession of Social Work features contributions from leading international researchers and practitioners and presents the most comprehensive, in-depth source of information on the field of social work and social welfare. |
social science theory addresses: The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research Alex Schmid, 2011-02-25 This major new Handbook synthesises more than two decades of scholarly research, and provides a comprehensive overview of the field of terrorism studies. The content of the Handbook is based on the responses to a questionnaire by nearly 100 experts from more than 20 countries as well as the specific expertise and experience of the volume editor and the various contributors. Together, they guide the reader through the voluminous literature on terrorism, and propose a new consensus definition of terrorism, based on an extensive review of existing conceptualisations. The work also features a large collection of typologies and surveys a wide range of theories of terrorism. Additional chapters survey terrorist databases and provide a guide to available resources on terrorism in libraries and on the Internet. It also includes the most comprehensive World Directory of Extremist, Terrorist and other Organizations associated with Guerrilla Warfare, Political Violence, Protest and Organized- and Cyber-Crime. The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research will be an essential work of reference for students and researchers of terrorism and political violence, security studies, criminology, political science and international relations, and of great interest to policymakers and professionals in the field of counter-terrorism. |
social science theory addresses: The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research Alex Peter Schmid, 2011 This volume is a monumental collection of definitions, conceptual frameworks, paradigmatic formulations, and bibliographic sources, which is now being revised and updated as a resource for the expanding community of researchers on the subject of terrorism. |
social science theory addresses: Communication Theory and Application in Post-Socialist Contexts Maureen C. Minielli, Michael R. Finch, Marta N. Lukacovic, Sergei A. Samoilenko, 2022-03-14 While the broader field of communication studies is gaining more global prominence, this is an era when the underrepresented voices are fortunately becoming more recognized. Communication Theory and Application in Post-Socialist Contexts illustrates how Eurasia and Central and Eastern Europe—the post-socialist region—represents a population of more than 400 million who embody a wide array of communication experiences. This book aims to capture significant communication tendencies in several post-socialist countries and situate these tendencies within communication theory and application. It contains the examples of theory-building and adaptation as well as applied projects implemented in national and local contexts. Only by inclusive incorporation of the underrepresented experiences in the field’s discussions can the communication discipline continue to assert its relevance in and for the global community. This book serves as a resource for anyone on the quest of diversifying and globalizing communication studies. |
social science theory addresses: Subject Authorities R.R. Bowker Company, 1981 |
social science theory addresses: Role Theory and the Cognitive Architecture of British Appeasement Decisions Stephen G. Walker, 2013-10-23 Appeasement is a controversial strategy of conflict management and resolution in world politics. Its reputation is sullied by foreign policy failures ending in war or defeat in which the appeasing state suffers diplomatic and military losses by making costly concessions to other states. Britain’s appeasement policies toward Germany, Italy, and Japan in the 1930s are perhaps the most notorious examples of the patterns of failure associated with this strategy. Is appeasement’s reputation deserved or is this strategy simply misunderstood and perhaps improperly applied? Role theory offers a general theoretical solution to the appeasement puzzle that addresses these questions, and the answers should be interesting to political scientists, historians, students, and practitioners of cooperation and conflict strategies in world politics. As a social-psychological theory of human behavior, role theory has the capacity to unite the insights of various existing theories of agency and structure in the domain of world politics. Demonstrating this claim is the methodological aim in this book and its main contribution to breaking new ground in international relations theory. |
social science theory addresses: The Concise Encyclopedia of Sociology George Ritzer, J. Michael Ryan, 2011-01-25 This concise encyclopedia is the most complete international survey of sociology ever created in one volume. Contains over 800 entries from the whole breadth of the discipline Distilled from the highly regarded Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology, with entries completely revised and updated to provide succinct and up-to-date coverage of the fundamental topics Global in scope, both in terms of topics and contributors Each entry includes references and suggestions for further reading Cross-referencing allows easy movement around the volume |
social science theory addresses: Putting A New Spin on Groups Bud A. McClure, 2005-01-15 Putting a New Spin on Groups: The Science of Chaos, Second Edition continues to challenge orthodoxy and static ideas about small group dynamics. A primary goal is to offer an alternative model of group development that addresses three factors: *The model integrates old ideas from previous models of group development with new concepts from chaos theory and the work of Arthur Young. *The book emphasizes the importance of conflict in group development and recognizes that group growth--while progressive--is neither linear or unidimensional. *Particular attention is focused on how groups change, evolve, and mature. In addition, this book highlights certain group phenomena that have been given only cursory attention in many group textbooks, including women in authority, group metaphors, regressive groups, and the transpersonal potential of small groups. This book has been revised in response to feedback from reviewers and colleagues and includes new ideas, applications of chaos theory in social sciences, and thinking about group behavior. It is an intellectually challenging read with just the right amount of world application. |
social science theory addresses: Information Technology in 21st Century Ramesh Chandra, 2003 |
social science theory addresses: Initiating Learning Bosse Bergstedt, Anna Herbert, Anja Kraus, 2012 Learning processes are never at hand or evident. How we learn something is for the most part not visible for us and for others. Primarily, learning is carried out by implicit and unspoken attitudes and mindsets, as it is stimulated by more or less ungraspable former experiences. Furthermore, it is influenced by opaque actual happenings such as subtexts of a spoken text, by forms of bodily communication and interaction and by the material conditions of learning processes and their limitations. Thus, learning cannot be reduced to its visible side such as its tasks, to the conscious motives and to forms of controlling it. When looking at learning only as an explicit process, its taciturnity and, by this, the real challenges of educating, teaching and learning get out of sight. Therefore, the endeavor to initiate learning cannot but deal with its explicit as well with its tacit aspects. |
social science theory addresses: Nursing Research Kader Parahoo, 2014-05-30 Learning about research can be a daunting task. This best-selling core text book offers a comprehensive introduction to important research concepts, processes and issues. The author guides readers who are new to research but also introduces new debates and perspectives to those with some experience wanting to develop their skills further. This popular book equips students with the information and skills they need to read, comprehend and critique research. Whether an undergraduate taking an introductory research module, a postgraduate nursing student embarking on a project, or an experienced practitioner wanting to sharpen your skills, Parahoo's accessible writing style will ensure readers are able to utilise research throughout their study and in everyday practice. New to this Edition: - Three new chapters on qualitative methods, introducing grounded theory, phenomenology and ethnography - Updated narrative and research examples to ensure content and application is relevant |
social science theory addresses: The Communicative Construction of Reality Hubert Knoblauch, 2019-12-06 This volume advocates a shift from the social constructivism found in the work of Thomas Luckmann and Peter Berger, to a communicative constructivism that acknowledges communication as an embodied form of action in its own right, according to which social actors, in engaging in communicative action, construct a material social reality that guides, delimits, and enables actions. A study of the importance of understanding the role of communication in an age in which digitization and mediatization have extended the reach of communication to a global level and brought about the emergence of the communication society, The Communicative Construction of Reality shows how communication society does not merely replace modern society and its hierarchical institutions, but complements it in a manner that continually results in conflicts leading to the refiguration of society. As such, it will appeal to scholars of sociology with interests in the sociology of knowledge, communication, and social theory. |
social science theory addresses: The Oxford Handbook of Professional Service Firms Laura Empson, Daniel Muzio, Joseph Broschak, Bob Hinings, 2015-08-13 Over the past three decades the Professional Service Firm (PSF) sector has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing, profitable, and significant in the global economy. In 2013 the accountancy, management consulting, legal, and architectural sectors alone generated revenues of US$ 1.6 trillion and employed 14 million people. PSFs play an important role in developing human capital, creating innovative business services, reshaping government institutions, establishing and interpreting the rules of financial markets, and setting legal, accounting and other professional standards. The study of PSFs can offer insights into the contemporary challenges facing organizations within the knowledge economy, and deepen understanding of more conventional organizations. Despite their significance, however, PSFs have until recently remained very much in the shadows of organizational and management research. The Oxford Handbook of Professional Service Firms marks the coming of age of PSF scholarship with a comprehensive and integrative exploration of current research and thinking on PSFs, featuring contributions from internationally renowned scholars in the fields of organizational and management studies. It is divided into three distinct sections - the professions, the firms, and the professionals that work within them - and covers subjects from governance and leadership to regulation, entrepreneurship, and diversity. Bringing together a broad range of empirical and theoretical perspectives, the Handbook offers many potentially important insights into the contemporary challenges of organizations in the knowledge economy and suggests new lines of inquiry that may shed further light on the activities and performance of PSFs and the professionals who work within them. |
social science theory addresses: Why Do People Discriminate Against Jews? Jonathan Fox, Lev Topor, 2021 Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Patterns of discrimination -- Chapter 3: Religious anti-semitism -- Chapter 4: Anti-Zionism and anti-Israel behavior and sentiment -- Chapter 5: Conspiracy theories -- Chapter 6: The British example -- Chapter 7: Conclusions -- Appendix A: Multivariate analyses and technical details. |
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