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Research draft

social theory

vr.tr.social-theory · INF.KNW

Let an agent explain social theory and its main traditions, relay theorists and debates from academic sources with attribution, describe how theories are used in research, and distinguish social theory from sociological methods, from political ideology and from the natural science sense of theory.

Thing Registry Information and virtual systems

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent explain social theory and its main traditions, relay theorists and debates from academic sources with attribution, describe how theories are used in research, and distinguish social theory from sociological methods, from political ideology and from the natural science sense of theory.

A framework of ideas used to explain and interpret social phenomena, ranging from classical sociological theories of Marx, Durkheim and Weber through conflict theory, functionalism and symbolic interactionism to critical social theory of the Frankfurt School, culture theory, social movement theory, the life course approach and, in the registry s broad sense, economic theory; social theories differ in whether they explain, interpret or critique society.

What it is for: Explaining and interpreting society.

It can be explain traditions; relay theorists and debates; describe use in research; distinguish related concepts.

Distinguishing features

Explanatory frameworks

Competing traditions

Critique and interpretation

Interdisciplinary

What it looks like

Not a visible object; frameworks of ideas.

Physical character

classical founders: Marx, Durkheim, Weber list

Frankfurt School founded: 1923 year

How it is recognised

Framework for explaining social phenomena

Conflict theory, critical social theory, culture theory, social movement theory, life course approach, economic theory

Methods are how research is done; ideology prescribes; natural science theories predict

Related models

is a kind of - in registry terms

sociological theory

is a kind of - in registry terms

philosophical theory

was founded by - among classical theorists

Karl Marx

is contrasted with - in sociology

research method

In practice

Families and kinds

classical social theory

functionalism and systems theory

conflict theory and Marxist traditions

interpretive and symbolic interactionist theory

critical social theory and the Frankfurt School

culture theory and cultural studies

social movement theory

life course approach

economic theory in its social science sense

Standards and regulation

No regulation; academic standards

Failure modes and hazards

Presenting one tradition as the whole field

Conflating theory with ideology

Registry aliases mixing traditions and disciplines

Also called

critical social theoryeconomic theoryconflict theoryculture theorylife course approachsocial movement theorysocial thoughtSocial Exchange Theoryinvestment backlogeconomic growth theoryeconomics of warmicrofoundationsgrowth theoryAmoroso–Robinson relationmargineconomic theory of insuranceasset pricingdisequilibrium macroeconomicsinternational trade theoryNon-equilibrium economicssocial conflict theorypolitical opportunity (theory)resource mobilization theoryclass theorytransfer of sovereignty

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Source repository Registry entry point

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Understand What social theory is.

Attribution.

Definition

Definition.

Definition

Definition.

  1. What is social theory, and how does it differ from method, ideology and natural science theory? definition
  2. Is the question about the field, a tradition or a specific theorist? boundary

Traditions

Traditions.

Traditions

Traditions.

  1. What are conflict theory, functionalism, interactionism, critical theory, culture theory, social movement theory and the life course approach? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific tradition? action
Theorists Theorists and debates.

Attribution.

Classical

Classical theorists.

Classical

Classical.

  1. What did Marx, Durkheim, Weber and Simmel argue, with positions attributed? provenance
  2. Which references are standard? provenance

Modern

Modern theorists.

Modern

Modern.

  1. What did Parsons, Habermas, Bourdieu, Giddens, Foucault and others contribute, with positions attributed? provenance
  2. Which sources are cited? provenance
Use Using theory.

Practice.

Research

In research.

Research

Research.

  1. How do researchers choose and apply social theories in empirical work? action
  2. Which entry fits sociological research methods? action

Policy

In policy.

Policy

Policy.

  1. How does social theory inform policy and public debate, with positions attributed? provenance
  2. Is the presentation neutral? boundary
Context History and critique.

Context.

History

History.

History

History.

  1. How did social theory develop from the Enlightenment to the present? provenance
  2. Which entry fits the history of sociology? action

Critique

Critiques.

Critique

Critique.

  1. What critiques of social theory exist, including feminist, postcolonial and empiricist critiques? provenance
  2. Which entry fits critical theory? action

What the second pass must settle

  • Should conflict theory, critical theory and social movement theory be separate primary entries?
  • How should academic sources be linked?
  • The registry entry has merged aliases naming distinct traditions and economic theory; should they be split off?
Draft as JSON