The Methods and Surprises of Sociological Theory: Ideas, Postulates, Predictions, Distributions, Unification

Guillermina Jasso

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

    Abstract

    This chapter discusses the methods and surprises of sociological theory. We examine five theoretical activities: (1) assembling key ideas, including the Mertonian starting ideas; (2) crafting postulates and establishing their properties; (3) deducing implications, including novel predictions; (4) linking individuals and societies, obtaining new probability distributions; and (5) unifying distinct theories. These activities require a body of methods, and they produce discoveries—the great surprises.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Title of host publicationHandbooks of Sociology and Social Research
    PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media B.V.
    Pages17-36
    Number of pages20
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2021

    Publication series

    NameHandbooks of Sociology and Social Research
    ISSN (Print)1389-6903
    ISSN (Electronic)2542-839X

    Keywords

    • Justice and fairness
    • Methods for theoretical analysis
    • Postulates
    • Predictions
    • Status
    • Theoretical unification

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Social Psychology
    • Psychology (miscellaneous)
    • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
    • Sociology and Political Science

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'The Methods and Surprises of Sociological Theory: Ideas, Postulates, Predictions, Distributions, Unification'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this