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Constructing Social Theory

By: David C. Bell

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Paperback | 28 August 2008

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342 Pages

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Constructing Social Theory discusses the nature of social theory and theoretical orientations. Organized by forty-three theoretical orientations in seven domains—exchange, power, adaptation/reinforcement, social bond, altruism, functionalism, and identity—the text includes a tutorial on how to identify an appropriate theoretical orientation and create a theory given a particular research question. Bell separates the theoretical orientation of causal logic from theory itself, illuminating the mechanisms of scientific revolutions where new theoretical orientations are created, and the procedures of normal science, in which theories are developed using the logic of existing theoretical orientations.

Industry Reviews

This book provides a near groundbreaking approach to conceptualizing and constructing social theory. While Bell builds upon what others have contributed in this area, he also critiques their work and proposes alternatives. He shows an excellent understanding of major issues in the philosophy of science as they relate to social theory construction. The book is very well referenced and so will be especially valuable to those who want to pursue the subject futher. * Teaching Sociology, October 2009 *
This book provides a near groundbreaking approach to conceptualizing and constructing social theory. While Bell builds upon what others have contributed in this area, he also critiques their work and proposes alternatives. He shows an excellent understanding of major issues in the philosophy of science as they relate to social theory construction. The book is very well referenced and so will be especially valuable to those who want to pursue the subject further. * Teaching Sociology, October 2009 *

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Published: 28th August 2008

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Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Explanatory Logics	p. 1
Sociology, Science, and Applied Theory	p. 3
Research Questions	p. 7
Theory: Cause in Context	p. 9
Applied Sociological Theory	p. 15
Plan of This Book	p. 16
Theoretical Systems	p. 19
The Theoretical System	p. 22
Theoretical Orientations	p. 24
Theories	p. 28
Hypotheses	p. 31
Vocabulary	p. 34
The Refinement of Theoretical Systems	p. 39
Scientific Revolutions	p. 39
Normal Science	p. 41
The Deduction-Induction Cycle	p. 42
Epicycle Creation	p. 48
The Limits of Epicycles	p. 55
Auxiliary Logics	p. 56
Scope	p. 57
Creating Theory: The Art of Normal Science	p. 61
Formulate a Research Question	p. 62
Choose a Theoretical Orientation	p. 66
Translate a Theoretical Orientation into Theory	p. 70
Constructing Other Potential Theories	p. 72
Restrain Yourself	p. 74
The Organization of Normal Science Research	p. 75
Action Theoretical Orientations	p. 81
Action Theoretical Orientations	p. 83
Action	p. 84
The Unitary Self	p. 88
The Multiplex Self	p. 90
Action Systems	p. 91
Social Systems and Social Structure	p. 93
System	p. 94
Structure	p. 96
Levels of Analysis	p. 98
Self-interest: Exchange	p. 101
The Direct Exchange Orientation	p. 103
The Direct Social Exchange Orientation	p. 104
The Implicit Social Exchange Orientation	p. 105
The Indirect Social Exchange Orientation	p. 109
The Generalized Social Exchange Orientation	p. 110
The Impersonal (Market) Exchange Orientation	p. 111
Evaluation of Exchange Logics	p. 113
Self-interest: Power	p. 117
The Direct Physical Power Orientation	p. 120
The Direct Negative Power Orientation	p. 122
The Direct Social Power Orientation	p. 124
The Indirect Power Orientation	p. 125
The Normative Power Orientation	p. 126
The Normative Socialization Power Orientation	p. 130
The Ideological Control Orientation	p. 134
The Power as Cause Orientation	p. 136
Evaluation of Power Logics	p. 137
Self-interest: Adaptation	p. 141
Reinforcement Adaptation Orientation	p. 144
The Structural Adaptation Orientation	p. 146
The Social Control Orientation	p. 147
The Personal Control Adaptation Orientation	p. 148
The Social Learning Adaptation Orientation	p. 150
The Structural Role Orientation	p. 150
The Institutional Control Orientation	p. 152
The Field Adaptation Orientation	p. 153
The Stress Adaptation Orientation	p. 155
The Symbolic Interaction Orientation	p. 156
Evaluation of Adaptation Logics	p. 158
Relationships: Social Bond	p. 163
The Identity Bond Orientation	p. 165
The Belonging Bond Orientation	p. 167
The Structural Bond Theoretical Orientation	p. 168
The Bestowal Orientation	p. 171
The Attachment Orientation	p. 172
The Connection Orientation	p. 176
Evaluation of Social Bond Logics	p. 178
Relationships: Altruism	p. 183
The Morality Orientation	p. 185
The Therapeutic Orientation	p. 187
The Social Intervention Orientation	p. 190
The Women's Voice Orientation	p. 192
Evaluation of Altruism Logic	p. 194
Auxiliary Theoretical Orientations	p. 197
Auxiliary Logic: Function	p. 199
The Categorical Functional Orientation	p. 202
The Sociobiological Functional Orientation	p. 205
The Structural Functional Orientation	p. 206
The Cybernetic Functional Orientation	p. 207
The Moral Functional Orientation	p. 209
Evaluation of Functional Logics	p. 210
Auxiliary Logic: Identity	p. 213
The Merger Orientation	p. 214
Identification	p. 215
The Partial Identification Orientation	p. 217
The Interest Identification Orientation	p. 218
The Image Identification Orientation	p. 219
Evaluation of Identity Logics	p. 220
Theories	p. 225
Action Theories of Parental Nurturance	p. 227
Exchange Theories	p. 227
A Direct Exchange Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 228
Two Direct Social Exchange Theories of Nurturance by Parents and of Parents	p. 229
Three Implicit Social Exchange Theories of Nurturance by Parents and of Parents	p. 231
An Indirect Social Exchange Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 234
Two Generalized Social Exchange Theories of Nurturance by Parents	p. 236
Power Theories	p. 238
A Direct Physical Power Theory of Parental Discipline of Children	p. 238
A Direct Negative Power Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 239
A Direct Social Power Theory of Nurturance by Insecure Parents	p. 240
An Indirect Power Theory of Nurturance by Mothers	p. 241
Two Normative Power Theories of Nurturance by Parents	p. 242
A Normative Socialization Power Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 243
An Ideological Control Theory of Nurturance by Adult Children	p. 245
Adaptation Theories	p. 246
A Reinforcement Adaptation Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 246
A Structural Adaptation Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 247
A Social Control Adaptation Theory of Nurturance by Fathers	p. 248
A Personal Control Adaptation Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 249
A Social Learning Adaptation Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 250
A Structural Role Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 250
Two Institutional Control Theories of Nurturance by Fathers	p. 251
A Field Adaptation Theory of Nurturance by Adult Children	p. 253
A Stress Adaptation Theory of Parental Effectiveness	p. 255
A Symbolic Interaction Theory of Nurturance by Mothers	p. 256
Social Bond Theories	p. 256
An Identity Bond Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 257
A Belonging Bond Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 257
A Structural Bond Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 258
A Bestowal Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 258
An Attachment Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 259
A Connection Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 259
Altruism Theories	p. 260
A Morality Theory of Nurturance by Fathers	p. 261
Two Therapeutic Theories of Nurturance by Mothers and by Adult Children	p. 261
A Social Intervention Theory of Family Advocacy	p. 263
A Women's Voice Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 263
Functional Theories	p. 264
A Sociobiological Functional Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 264
A Structural Functional Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 266
A Cybernetic Functional Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 269
A Moral Functional Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 271
Identity Theories	p. 272
A Merger Theory of Parental Nurturance	p. 272
A Partial Identification Theory of Nurturance by parents	p. 273
An Interest Identification Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 274
An Image Identification Theory of Nurturance by Parents	p. 274
Evaluation	p. 279
The Sociology of Sociological Theory	p. 281
The Logical Process of Sociological Progress	p. 282
The Personal Process of Sociological Progress	p. 286
The Social Process of Sociological Progress	p. 292
References	p. 301
Index	p. 323
About the Author	p. 327
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Constructing Social Theory

At a Glance

Paperback

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