ANALYTICKÁ SOCIOLÓGIA: NIEKOĽKO METODOLOGICKÝCH INŠPIRÁCIÍ

• Authors: Juraj Schenk

Title variants

EN

Analytical sociology: Some methodological inspirations

• Languages of publication: SK

Abstracts

EN

In the article, the fundamental principles of analytical sociology are briefly introduced. As underlined, the contemporary analytical sociology based on social mechanism concept is closely connected to multi-agent (or agent-based) modelling. Three methodological inspirations which can be found in contemporary analytical sociology are discussed. The first one is dealing with Merton´s interpretation of Middle range theory. According to Hedström and Udehn, there are two basic dimensions of MRT: dimension of generality (explanandum) and dimension of isolation (explanans). In the next part, the model construction of theory is discussed and compared to the strategy of hypothetic-deductive theory construction. Finally, the issue of explanation based upon social mechanism is analysed. There are two fundamental approaches to solve the issue which can be found in the analytical sociology. Bunge´s approach (How does it work?) is compared to Boudon´s one (Why does it work?). The social mechanism underlying the social control process is introduced to demonstrate the idea that the answer to the question “how does it work?” can provide a non-trivial though not final explanation of social phenomena.

Keywords

EN

ANALYTICAL SOCIOLOGY; SOCIAL MECHANISM; CAUSALITY; EXPLANATION; MIDDLE RANGE THEORY

• Publisher: Institute of Sociology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Sociológia (Sociology)
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 130 – 145

Contributors

author

Juraj Schenk

• Katedra sociológie, Filozofická fakulta UK v Bratislave, Gondova 2, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovak Republic