Dissecting the Social On the Principles of Analytical Sociology [Hardcover]

This book argues for sociological theory that has the explanatory power and precision to inform research and understanding.Building on his earlier influential contributions to contemporary debates on social theory, Professor Hedstrom argues for a systematic development of sociological theory so that it has the explanatory power and precision to inform sociological research and understanding--qualities lacking in much of the grand social theorizing that is currently fashionable. Combining new approaches to theory and methodology and using extensive examples to illustrate how to apply them, this sophisticated and original book will appeal to a broad range of social scientists.Building on his earlier influential contributions to contemporary debates on social theory, Professor Hedstrom argues for a systematic development of sociological theory so that it has the explanatory power and precision to inform sociological research and understanding--qualities lacking in much of the grand social theorizing that is currently fashionable. Combining new approaches to theory and methodology and using extensive examples to illustrate how to apply them, this sophisticated and original book will appeal to a broad range of social scientists.Building on his earlier influential contributions to contemporary debates on social theory, Peter Hedstrom argues for a systematic development of sociological theory so that it has the explanatory power and precision to inform sociological research and understanding--qualities lacking in much of the grand social theorizing currently fashionable.1. The analytical tradition in sociology; 2. Social mechanisms and explanatory theory; 3. Action and interaction; 4. Social interaction and social change; 5. On causal modelling; 6. Quantitative research, agent-based modelling, and theories of the social (with Yvonne ?berg); 7. Coda; References. Dissecting the Social is a substantial and important contribution to the emerging paradigm of mechanism-based expl3i