Nyhet

Developing Theories in the Social Sciences

Methods and Applications

AvJane Sell,Murray Webster Jr.

Häftad, Engelska, 2026

Del i serien Methodological Tools in the Social Sciences

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Beskrivning

Progress in the social sciences entails developing and improving theoretical understanding of social phenomena and improving methods for collecting and analyzing data. Theories organize what we know or expect to learn about phenomena and methods provide the evidential basis for the theories. While we have witnessed great strides in the development of statistical methods, there is less information for developing theories. In Developing Theories in the Social Sciences, Jane Sell and Murray Webster Jr. describe an approach for logical, consistent, and useful explanatory theories for social scientists. They emphasize properly defining concepts to embed in theoretical propositions, while providing guidelines for avoiding missteps that can occur, including imprecise definitions, incomplete assumptions, and missing scope conditions. Offering examples from different disciplines, the authors propose a structured method vital for building and refining theories about social phenomena.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2026-06-18
Mått:229 x 12 x 152 mm
Vikt:235 g
Format:Häftad
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Methodological Tools in the Social Sciences
Antal sidor:144
Förlag:Cambridge University Press
ISBN:9781009483339

Utforska kategorier

Sociologi inom Samhälle och politik

Mer om författaren

Jane Sell is Professor Emerita of Sociology at Texas A & M University. She has published widely on theory and theory construction, public goods, group processes and methodology. In 2017 she received the Cooley-Mead Award from the Social Psychology Section of the American Sociological Association for life-time achievement. Murray Webster Jr. is a Professor of Sociology Emeritus at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in sociological theory at several universities. He has published on theory building in American Sociological Review, Social Science Research, and The American Journal of Sociology. He served twice as Program Director for Sociology at the National Science Foundation, and has chaired the Theory, Social Psychology, and Mathematical Sociology sections of the American Sociological Association.

Recensioner i media

'Drawing on a long and influential record of bringing social science fields into conversation with one another, Sell and Webster offer their latest and most synthetic contribution in Developing Theories in the Social Sciences. Building on earlier work that helped integrate experimental research across disciplines, this book steps back to address the foundations of theory itself: how concepts are formed, how explanations are structured, and how theories connect to empirical evidence. Clear, rigorous, and deeply informed by decades of cross-disciplinary scholarship, this volume will be an essential resource for scholars who want to move beyond isolated findings toward a cumulative and unified social science.' Catherine Eckel, Sara and John Lindsey Professor, Texas A&M University

Innehållsförteckning

1. What is a theory?; 2. Concepts; 3. Logical sentences and truth; 4. Types of reasoning and definitions; 5. Testing theory; 6. Developing a theory of status effects; 7. Public good theory and research; 8. Avoiding common missteps.