Theory and Methods in Sociology An Introduction to Sociological Thinking and Practice

This book offers a guide to sociology that explores its theoretical and methodological dimensions. Providing the student with a sense of the reasoned character of the discipline, it traces how different theories and methods relate to one another, exploring the particular problems they spawn and the debates that have arisen in response. The guide is written to be easy to use: individual chapters stand alone as well as fit into the overarching narrative; boxes in the text explain key concepts and feature particular methods, theories or key figures; and annotated further reading lists are provided throughout.

JOHN HUGHES is Professor of Sociology at the University of Lancaster. WES SHARROCK is Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester.

Preface * Introduction: Sociology: Pluralism or Disarray? * The Positivist Project * Building a Science of Sociology * Variable Analysis and Measurement * Interviews and Questions * The Social Survey and Multivariate Analysis * The Demise of Positivism * SECTION 2: THE QUALITATIVE TURN * Introduction: The Contest Over Realism * The Method of Fieldwork * Explorations in Actor's Point of View * Data Collection versus Analysis * SECTION 3 * The Refurbishing of Critical Sociology * Post-modernism, post-structuralism * Conclusion * Bibliography Preface * Introduction: Sociology: Pluralism or Disarray? * The Positivist Project * Building a Science of Sociology * Variable Analysis and Measurement * Interviews and Questions * The Social Survey and Multivariate Analysis * The Demise of Positivism * SECTION 2: THE QUALITATIVE TURN * Introduction: The Contest Over Realism * The Method of Fieldwork * Explorations in Actor's Point of View * Data Collection versus Analysis * SECTION 3 * The Refurbishing of Critical Sociology * Post-modernism, post-structuralism * Conclusion * Bibliography