Actions and Structure

Research Methods and Social Theory
Nigel G. Fielding - University of Surrey, UK
October 1988 | 208 pages | Sage UK
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Hardcover
ISBN: 9780803981478
Available from January 0001

Description

Social scientists have always recognized a divergence between approaches which emphasize the constraining power of social structure and those which interpret society through the cumulative effects of the actions of individuals. In recent years there has been renewed interest in the latter through the micro-sociology of everyday life. Social scientists are now taking stock of the implications of such research for the analysis of structure. In Actions and Structure a distinguished team of social theorists assesses the value of research on individual's actions in everyday life for the analysis of social order. Individual chapters evaluate new research approaches from discourse and conversational analysis, mathematical, interactionist and phenomenological sociologies and network analysis. Throughout they assess how these approaches contribute to current debates around theories of organization, structure, and power. Particular attention is paid to Giddens concept of structuration and its critics from morphogenetic, cultural and systems perspectives. As a substantial contribution to current debates in sociology, this book will appeal to social scientists involved in social theory, sociological research and sociological methodology.

Contents

Between Micro and Macro

Between Micro and Macro

The Micro-Social Order

The Micro-Social Order

Autonomy Among Social Theories

Autonomy Among Social Theories

Semiotics and Social Theory

Semiotics and Social Theory

Micro-Sociology and Power

Micro-Sociology and Power

Micro-Sociology and Micro-Economics

Micro-Sociology and Micro-Economics

Micro-Sociology and the `Duality of Structure'

Micro-Sociology and the `Duality of Structure'

Individual and Social Connections

Individual and Social Connections

The `Structuration' of Action

The `Structuration' of Action

Micro-Sociology and Macro Theory

Micro-Sociology and Macro Theory

Description

Social scientists have always recognized a divergence between approaches which emphasize the constraining power of social structure and those which interpret society through the cumulative effects of the actions of individuals. In recent years there has been renewed interest in the latter through the micro-sociology of everyday life. Social scientists are now taking stock of the implications of such research for the analysis of structure. In Actions and Structure a distinguished team of social theorists assesses the value of research on individual's actions in everyday life for the analysis of social order. Individual chapters evaluate new research approaches from discourse and conversational analysis, mathematical, interactionist and phenomenological sociologies and network analysis. Throughout they assess how these approaches contribute to current debates around theories of organization, structure, and power. Particular attention is paid to Giddens concept of structuration and its critics from morphogenetic, cultural and systems perspectives. As a substantial contribution to current debates in sociology, this book will appeal to social scientists involved in social theory, sociological research and sociological methodology.

Contents

Between Micro and Macro

Between Micro and Macro

The Micro-Social Order

The Micro-Social Order

Autonomy Among Social Theories

Autonomy Among Social Theories

Semiotics and Social Theory

Semiotics and Social Theory

Micro-Sociology and Power

Micro-Sociology and Power

Micro-Sociology and Micro-Economics

Micro-Sociology and Micro-Economics

Micro-Sociology and the `Duality of Structure'

Micro-Sociology and the `Duality of Structure'

Individual and Social Connections

Individual and Social Connections

The `Structuration' of Action

The `Structuration' of Action

Micro-Sociology and Macro Theory

Micro-Sociology and Macro Theory

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Actions and Structure

Research Methods and Social Theory


October 1988 | 208 pages | Sage UK

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Hardcover 31/03/2026 9780803981478 $235.00

Social scientists have always recognized a divergence between approaches which emphasize the constraining power of social structure and those which interpret society through the cumulative effects of the actions of individuals. In recent years there has been renewed interest in the latter through the micro-sociology of everyday life. Social scientists are now taking stock of the implications of such research for the analysis of structure. In Actions and Structure a distinguished team of social theorists assesses the value of research on individual's actions in everyday life for the analysis of social order. Individual chapters evaluate new research approaches from discourse and conversational analysis, mathematical, interactionist and phenomenological sociologies and network analysis. Throughout they assess how these approaches contribute to current debates around theories of organization, structure, and power. Particular attention is paid to Giddens concept of structuration and its critics from morphogenetic, cultural and systems perspectives. As a substantial contribution to current debates in sociology, this book will appeal to social scientists involved in social theory, sociological research and sociological methodology.

Table Of Contents:

  • Between Micro and Macro
  • The Micro-Social Order
  • Autonomy Among Social Theories
  • Semiotics and Social Theory
  • Micro-Sociology and Power
  • Micro-Sociology and Micro-Economics
  • Micro-Sociology and the `Duality of Structure'
  • Individual and Social Connections
  • The `Structuration' of Action
  • Micro-Sociology and Macro Theory

Recent Product Reviews:

`This collection takes on issues of the first importance for sociology. The opening 'theory' chapters attempt to refine our understanding of the ontological configurations involved in perceiving structure and agency as a duality. Then comes the great novelty of the work in that the remaining papers address the issue of how knowledge of this duality should inform empirical research.... at the micro level there is knowledgeability in abundance here and Fielding and SAGE are to be congratulated for getting it out.' - Sociology

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