Sociological theory and social reality

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Titel: Sociological theory and social reality
Autoren: J Díez Nicolás
Quelle: RUDN journal of Sociology, Vol 0, Iss 3, Pp 23-43 (2014)
Verlagsinformationen: Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 2014.
Publikationsjahr: 2014
Bestand: LCC:Sociology (General)
Schlagwörter: методология социологического исследования, социальная экосистема, центр-периферия, социальные ценности, культурные ценности, безопасность, социальная структура, социальные изменения, Sociology (General), HM401-1281
Beschreibung: This paper pretends to demonstrate the complementary relations between three relatively recent sociological theories, each one of which explains a different aspect of the same social object: the origin, diffusion and change of social and cultural values, aiming at demonstrating that there is not such a thing as a sociological theory that explains all, but rather diverse theories that offer partial explanations of social reality. To that effect, and on the basis of the necessary relationship between theory and research, three different theories are evaluated separately: Hawley’s and Duncan’s theory of the social ecosystem, Galtung’s centre-periphery theory, and Inglehart’s theory of values’ change in modern-industrial societies, offering theoretical and empirical evidence of their complementary relations, based on Spanish and international data. Social ecosystem and centre-periphery theories show a high level of generalization (through space and time) and a high level of abstraction, though both can easily operationalize their main concepts through valid and reliable indicators. The theory of values’ change, however, though showing a high level of generalization, is limited in time to the historical period after World War II, and also shows a high level of abstraction. Centre-periphery theory and values’ change theory use individual and collective units of analysis, but social ecosystem theory only uses collective units, by definition. The three theories lead to the conclusion that ‘security’ values will gain a growing importance in present societies.
Publikationsart: article
Dateibeschreibung: electronic resource
Sprache: English
Russian
ISSN: 2313-2272
2408-8897
Relation: http://journals.rudn.ru/sociology/article/view/6257; https://doaj.org/toc/2313-2272; https://doaj.org/toc/2408-8897
Zugangs-URL: https://doaj.org/article/ff1a317c091f4c7bb1805b69b723dd3c
Dokumentencode: edsdoj.ff1a317c091f4c7bb1805b69b723dd3c
Datenbank: Directory of Open Access Journals
Beschreibung
Abstract:This paper pretends to demonstrate the complementary relations between three relatively recent sociological theories, each one of which explains a different aspect of the same social object: the origin, diffusion and change of social and cultural values, aiming at demonstrating that there is not such a thing as a sociological theory that explains all, but rather diverse theories that offer partial explanations of social reality. To that effect, and on the basis of the necessary relationship between theory and research, three different theories are evaluated separately: Hawley’s and Duncan’s theory of the social ecosystem, Galtung’s centre-periphery theory, and Inglehart’s theory of values’ change in modern-industrial societies, offering theoretical and empirical evidence of their complementary relations, based on Spanish and international data. Social ecosystem and centre-periphery theories show a high level of generalization (through space and time) and a high level of abstraction, though both can easily operationalize their main concepts through valid and reliable indicators. The theory of values’ change, however, though showing a high level of generalization, is limited in time to the historical period after World War II, and also shows a high level of abstraction. Centre-periphery theory and values’ change theory use individual and collective units of analysis, but social ecosystem theory only uses collective units, by definition. The three theories lead to the conclusion that ‘security’ values will gain a growing importance in present societies.
ISSN:23132272
24088897