Revisiting General Theory in Historical Sociology.

This article revisits the debate over general theory in historical sociology with the goal of clarifying the use of this kind of theory in empirical research. General theories are defined as postulates about causal agents and causal mechanisms that are linked to empirical analysis through bridging a...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Social Forces (University of North Carolina Press) Vol. 83; no. 2; pp. 459 - 490
Autor principal: Mahoney, James
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Oxford University Press / UK Dec2004
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ssf&AN=507947970&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ssf
    uiTerm: 507947970
    longDbName: Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson)
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        00377732
        SFR
      jtl: Social Forces (University of North Carolina Press)
      issn: 00377732
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Dec2004
      vid: 83
      iid: 2
      pid: 622
      pub: Oxford University Press / UK
    artinfo:
      ui:
        507947970
        10.1353/sof.2005.0018
      ppf: 459
      ppct: 31
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
              size: 571KB
      tig:
        atl: Revisiting General Theory in Historical Sociology.
      aug:
        au: Mahoney, James
      su:
        Philosophy of sociology
        Historical sociology
      sug:
        subj:
          Philosophy of sociology
          Historical sociology
      ab: This article revisits the debate over general theory in historical sociology with the goal of clarifying the use of this kind of theory in empirical research. General theories are defined as postulates about causal agents and causal mechanisms that are linked to empirical analysis through bridging assumptions. These theories can contribute to substantive knowledge by helping analysts derive new hypotheses, integrate existing findings, and explain historical outcomes. To illustrate these applications, the article considers five different general theories that have guided or could guide historical sociology: functionalist, rational choice, power, neo-Darwinian, and cultural theories. A key conclusion that emerges is that scholars must evaluate both the overall merits of general theory and the individual merits of specific general theories. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: N
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N