Methodology, Research, Social Theory, Sociology 

This text introduces social theory as a set of flexible and practical concepts that can be used to reflect on and make sense of social behavior.

Publisher Comments
This accessible text introduces social theory as a set of flexible and practical concepts that can be used to reflect on and make sense of social behavior. It encourages the reader to critically assess social explanations and to construct their own as active theorists in their own right. Drawing on examples chosen to appeal to a wide, international student readership, it offers a resolutely straightforward, practical and student-centered approach to theory, avoiding the heavy emphasis on individual theorists and the often difficult language of many existing texts. 

About the Author
John Parker, Leonard Mars, Paul Ransome, and Hilary Stanworth are all at the School of Social Sciences and International Development, University of Wales, Swansea.

Table of Contents
Introduction: The Tool Kit * Part I: The Concept of the Individual * What Do Individuals Explain? * Testing the Explanatory Value of Individuals * Part II: The Concept of Nature * What Does Nature Explain? * Testing the Explanatory Value of Nature * Part III: The Concept of Culture * What Does Culture Explain? * Testing the Explanatory Value of Culture * Part IV: The Concept of Action * What Does Action Explain? * Testing the Explanatory Value of Action * Part V: The Concept of Social Structure * What Does Social Structure Explain? * Testing the Explanatory Value of Social Structure * Part VI: Conclusion * Get Real: a Perspective on Social Science * Being Practical: the Uses and Payoffs of Social Explanation * Appendix: Do it Yourself; Using the Tool Kit to Develop your Own Hypotheses * Glossary * Bibliography and Guide to Further Reading 

Material Type: Book
Document Type: Book, Internet Resource
All Authors / Contributors: John Parker
Find more information about:
John Parker

ISBN: 0333962117 9780333962114 0333962125 9780333962121
OCLC Number: 51818636
Description: xiv, 239 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Contents: Machine derived contents note: Table of contents for Social theory : a basic tool kit / John Parker [and others]. --
Bibliographic record and links to related information available from the Library of Congress catalog --
Information from electronic data provided by the publisher. May be incomplete or contain other coding. --
Introduction: The Tool Kit --
Part I: The Concept of the Individual --
What Do Individuals Explain? --
Testing the Explanatory Value of Individuals --
Part II: The Concept of Nature --
What Does Nature Explain? --
Testing the Explanatory Value of Nature --
Part III: The Concept of Culture --
What Does Culture Explain? --
Testing the Explanatory Value of Culture --
Part IV: The Concept of Action --
What Does Action Explain? --
Testing the Explanatory Value of Action --
Part V: The Concept of Social Structure --
What Does Social Structure Explain? --
Testing the Explanatory Value of Social Structure --
Part VI: Conclusion --
Get Real: a Perspective on Social Science --
Being Practical: the Uses and Payoffs of Social Explanation --
Appendix: Do it Yourself --
Using the Tool Kit to Develop your Own Hypotheses --
Glossary --
Bibliography and Guide to Further Reading --
Library of Congress subject headings for this publication: Social sciences Philosophy, Social sciences Research, Culture, Action research.
Responsibility: John Parker [and others].