THE LOGIC OF SOCIAL RESEARCH

Book Details

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Author: Arthur L. Stinchcombe

• Language: English

• Edition: 2019

• ISBN: 9788131610923

• Pages: 368

• Cover: Hardcover

About the Book
Arthur L. Stinchcombe is recognized as a leading figure in methodology within sociology and related disciplines, having significantly contributed to the development of social research methods. His work, The Logic of Social Research, serves as an invaluable resource for students and researchers aiming to understand the complexities of social causation and the methods required to study it effectively.

This book introduces readers to the logic behind various research methods used in sociology, emphasizing that an effective sociologist must utilize multiple methods to address different types of social research problems. Stinchcombe identifies four main methods — quantitative, historical, ethnographic, and experimental — each with its unique strengths and uses in sociological research.

The work challenges traditional approaches, noting that while sociological theories often claim that certain social conditions produce other conditions, these causal links are not easily observable. Instead of directly showing causation, observations can be used to either support or refute causal theories. The book offers a framework for understanding these theories through methodical testing and hypothesis analysis, refining concepts through data, and testing hypotheses with real-world evidence.

Accessible yet profound, The Logic of Social Research is essential reading for those seeking to understand the craft of sociology and the logical structures behind social research methodologies.

Contents

• Methods for Sociology and Related Disciplines

• Distances as Central to Causal Reasoning and Methods

• The Basic Structure of Economy in Social Research

• Using Data to Refine Concepts of Distances between Units of Analysis

• Refining Concepts about Contexts

• Units of Analysis and Mechanisms: Turning Causes into Effects

• Testing Theories by Testing Hypotheses with Data

• Improving Theories with Data

About the Author
Arthur L. Stinchcombe is a professor emeritus of sociology, political science, and organizational behavior at Northwestern University. He is the author of numerous influential books, including Constructing Social Theories and When Formality Works: Authority and Abstraction in Law and Organizations.