{"product_id":"social-mechanisms-an-analytical-approach-to-social-theory-paperback-9780521596879","title":"Social Mechanisms; An Analytical Approach to Social Theory (Paperback) 9780521596879","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eSocial Mechanisms\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eAn Analytical Approach to Social Theory\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThese essays, written by prominent social scientists, advance criticisms of current trends in social theory and suggest alternative approaches.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003ePeter Hedström (Edited by), Richard Swedberg (Edited by)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521596879, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback, published 13 January 1998\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e356 pages, 16 b\/w illus.  6 tables\u003cbr\u003e21.7 x 14.1 x 2.1 cm, 0.45 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThe advancement of social theory requires an analytical approach that systematically seeks to explicate the social mechanisms that generate and explain observed associations between events. These essays, written by prominent social scientists, advance criticisms of current trends in social theory and suggest alternative approaches. The mechanism approach calls attention to an intermediary level of analysis in between pure description and story-telling, on the one hand, and grand theorizing and universal social laws, on the other. For social theory to be of use for the working social scientist, it must attain a high level of precision and provide a toolbox from which middle range theories can be constructed.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eAcknowledgements\u003cbr\u003e List of contributors\u003cbr\u003e 1. Social mechanisms: an introductory essay Peter Hedström and Richard Swedberg\u003cbr\u003e 2. Social mechanisms and social dynamics Thomas C. Schelling\u003cbr\u003e 3. A plea for mechanisms Jon Elster\u003cbr\u003e 4. Real virtuality Gudmund Hernes\u003cbr\u003e 5. Concatenations of mechanisms Diego Gambetta\u003cbr\u003e 6. Do economists use social mechanisms to explain? Tyler Cowen\u003cbr\u003e 7. Social mechanisms of dissonance reduction Timur Kuran\u003cbr\u003e 8. Social mechanisms without black boxes Raymond Boudon\u003cbr\u003e 9. Is sociological theory too grand for social mechanisms? Axel van den Berg\u003cbr\u003e 10. Theoretical mechanisms and the empirical study of social processes Aage B. Sørensen\u003cbr\u003e 11. Monopolistic competition as a mechanism: corporations, universities, and nation-states in competitive fields Arthur L. Stinchcombe\u003cbr\u003e 12. Rational imitation Peter Hedström\u003cbr\u003e Indexes.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Social theory [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Social theory\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Social%20theory%20%5BJHBA%5D%22\"\u003eJHBA\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46002988515608,"sku":"9780521596879","price":25.29,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521596879i_5ed6eac4-873e-4446-96a6-5bef82e1051d.jpg?v=1691370198","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/social-mechanisms-an-analytical-approach-to-social-theory-paperback-9780521596879","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}