560 Pages
by
Routledge
556 Pages
by
Routledge
556 Pages
by
Routledge
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Principles of Scientific Sociology represents a major attempt to redirect the course of contemporary sociological thought. It is clear, well-organized, innovative, and original in its discussion of the context and methods of sociology conceived as a natural science. Wallace delineates the subject matter of sociology, classifies its variables, presents a logic of inquiry, and advocates the use... Read more
Acknowledgments 1. General Introduction Objectives Method Contents Uses PART I: SOCIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION 2. Introduction to Part I A Generic Definition of Social Phenomena Primary Distinctions Within Each Component of the Generic Definition Social Structure, Cultural Structure, Spatial Regularity, and Temporal Regularity Social Structure Plus Cultural Structure, and Spatial Regularity Plus Temporal Regularity Social Structure, Cultural Structure, Spatial Regularity, and Temporal Regularity in Sociobiology 3. Social Structure Individual Physical Behaviors Within-Individual Aggregates of Physical Behaviors Across-Individuals Aggregates of Physical Behaviors Forms of Between-Individuals Physical Behavior Coincidence Summary 4. Cultural Structure Individual Psychical Behaviors Within-Individual Aggregates of Psychical Behaviors Across-Individuals Aggregates of Psychical Behaviors Forms of Between-Individuals Psychical Behavior Coincidence Summary 5. Spatial and Temporal Regularities Dimensions of Spatial and Temporal Regularities Social Change and Stability Social Spacing Types of Social Change and Social Spacing Combined Summary 6. Hierarchic Structure in Social Phenomena Four Variants of Hierarchic Structure The Principle of Hierarchic Structure Complex Social Phenomena Summary PART II: SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION AND PREDICTION 7. Introduction to Part II The Target of Sociological Explanation A Generic Typology of Sociological Explanatory Variables Qualifying Comments on the Typology Many-Variable Causal Models 8. Internal Variables Materialism Nurturism Instinctivism Enculturism Summary 9. External People Variables-Body Demographism Social Structuralism Summary 10. External People Variables-Mind Psychical Contagionism Cultural Structuralism Summary 11. External Thing Variables Ecologism Technologism Summary 12. Many-Variable Causal Models Hierarchically Structured Causes or Effects Relations Within the Same Level of a Causal Hierarchy Durkheim's Combinations of Causal Models and the Variables They Contain Summary PART III: SciENTIFic PROCEDURE 13. Introduction to Part III Subject Matter Procedures of Scientific Analysis Imaginary and Actual Analyses, and Individual and Collective Analyses Pure and Applied Phases of Scientific Analysis Understanding of What? Control Over What? Substantive Interrelationships 14. Pure Science Observations Empirical Generalizations Explanations Explanatory and Predictive Procedures Tests Summary 15. Applied Science Plans Decisions Implementations Outcomes and Evaluations Summary 16 Premises of Scientific Procedure, and Objections to Employing that Procedure in Sociology Object Premises Subject Premises Objections to Applying Scientific Procedure to Sociology Summary Concluding Remarks References Name Index Subject Index
Biography
Walter Wallace
