The project of twentieth-century sociology and political
science--to create predictive scientific theory--resulted in few
full-scale theories that can be taken off the shelf and
successfully applied to empirical puzzles. Yet focused "theory
frames" that formulate problems and point to relevant causal
factors and conditions have produced vibrant, insightful, and
analytically oriented empirical research. While theory frames alone
cannot offer explanation or prediction, they guide empirical theory
formation and give direction to inferences from empirical evidence.
They are also responsible for much of the progress in the social
sciences. In "Usable Theory," distinguished sociologist Dietrich
Rueschemeyer shows graduate students and researchers how to
construct theory frames and use them to develop valid empirical
hypotheses in the course of empirical social and political
research. Combining new ideas as well as analytic tools derived
from classic and recent theoretical traditions, the book enlarges
the rationalist model of action by focusing on knowledge, norms,
preferences, and emotions, and it discusses larger social
formations that shape elementary forms of action. Throughout,
"Usable Theory" seeks to mobilize the implicit theoretical social
knowledge used in everyday life.Offers tools for theory building in
social and political research Complements the rationalist model of
action with discussions of knowledge, norms, preferences, and
emotions Relates theoretical ideas to problems of methodology
Situates elementary forms of action in relation to larger
formations Combines new ideas with themes from classic and more
recent theories
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!