Developing Theories in the Social Sciences

Methods and Applications
Erscheinungsjahr 2026
ISBN: 978-1-009-48333-9
Verlag: Cambridge University Press

Buch, Englisch, 144 Seiten, Format (B × H): 154 mm x 228 mm, Gewicht: 249 g

Reihe: Methodological Tools in the Social Sciences

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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Sell, Jane

Webster Jr., Murray

Inhaltsverzeichnis

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.

Über Autor(innen)

Webster Jr., Murray
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.

Sell, Jane
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.