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Social Theory and Its Methods
Social Theory and Its Methods
Monday, 11 July 2016: 09:00-10:30
Location: Hörsaal 26 (Main Building)
RC33 Logic and Methodology in Sociology (host committee) Language: English
In Latin America there is a growing interest in social theory and methodology. This has produced a set of researchers seeking critical reconstruction of the most significant theoretical approaches in sociology and their underlying methodological principles.
Traditional tensions, never resolved completely within sociology, between agency and structure, macro and micro, qualitative and quantitative, led to theories and methodologies to be difficult to reconcile, such as those articulated around social structure and those departing from face-to-face symbolic interaction.
Attempts at integration between the two poles of these perspectives are carried out since the 1980s. There have been arguments to look for a macro-basis of social interaction, or how the macro consists of an aggregate of micro-episodes, and even philosophical attacks on what was considered a spurious bifurcation of micro- and macro-levels.
Recently the debate is formulated from a different perspective that discusses the “substantial” or “relational” nature of subjects and objects that make up for the “social”. In general terms, a trend can be observed of a move from sociologies that privilege “structure” and the immersive nature of “society” as a determinant of social relationships, to a “relational” sociology that forces to rethink the major theoretical approaches in the light of this new perspective.
The aim of this session is to reflect on the epistemological principles implied in the main theoretical approaches. We think that this forum constitutes an excellent opportunity to re-open the debate in Latin America in dialogue with similar efforts in other parts of the academic world. Papers for this session should therefore address one or more of the following themes:
- A critical reconstruction of theoretical approaches in sociology and their underlying methodological principles.
- Epistemological principles implied in the main theoretical approaches and their relation to methods.
- Mixed-method design and its relation to contemporary social theory.
- Latin American appropriation of Anglophone and European theoretical approaches and methods.
Session Organizer: