Middle-range theory, developed by Robert K. Merton, is an approach to sociological theorizing aimed at integrating theory and empirical research. It is currently the de facto dominant approach to sociological theory construction,[1] especially in the United States.
Middle-range theory starts with an empirical phenomenon (as opposed to a broad abstract entity like the social system) and abstracts from it to create general statements that can be verified by data.[2] This approach stands in contrast to the earlier "grand" theorizing of social theory, such as functionalism and many conflict theories. Raymond Boudon has argued that "middle-range" theory is the same concept that most other sciences simply call "theory".[3]
The analytical sociology movement has as its aim the unification of such theories into a coherent paradigm at a greater level of abstraction.
Sociological theory, if it is to advance significantly, must proceed on these interconnected planes: (1) by developing special theories from which to derive hypotheses that can be empirically investigated and (2) by evolving a progressively more general conceptual scheme that is adequate to consolidate groups of special theories.
The term "middle-range theory" does not refer to a specific theory, but is rather an approach to theory construction. Raymond Boudon defines middle-range theory as a commitment to two ideas. The first is positive, and describes what such theories should do: sociological theories, like all scientific theories, should aim to consolidate otherwise segregated hypotheses and empirical regularities; "if a 'theory' is valid, it 'explains' and in other words 'consolidates' and federates empirical regularities which on their side would appear otherwise segregated." The other is negative, and it relates to what theory cannot do: "it is hopeless and quixotic to try to determine the overarching independent variable that would operate in all social processes, or to determine the essential feature of social structure, or to find out the two, three, or four couples of concepts ... that would be sufficient to analyze all social phenomena".[3]
Historyedit
The midrange approach was developed by Robert Merton as a departure from the general social theorizing of Talcott Parsons. Merton agreed with Parsons that a narrow empiricism consisting entirely of simple statistical or observational regularities cannot arrive at successful theory. However, he found that Parsons' "formulations were remote from providing a problematics and a direction for theory-oriented empirical inquiry into the observable worlds of culture and society".[5] He was thus directly opposed to the abstract theorizing of scholars who are engaged in the attempt to construct a total theoretical system covering all aspects of social life. With the introduction of the middle-range theory programme, he advocated that sociologists should concentrate on measurable aspects of social reality that can be studied as separate social phenomena, rather than attempting to explain the entire social world. He saw both the middle-range theory approach and middle-range theories themselves as temporary: when they matured, as natural sciences already had, the body of middle-range theories would become a system of universal laws; but, until that time, social sciences should avoid trying to create a universal theory.[6]
Merton's original foil in the construction was Talcott Parsons, whose action theoryC. Wright Mills later classified as a "grand theory". (Parsons vehemently rejected this categorization.) Middle-range theories are normally constructed by applying theory-building techniques to empirical research, which produce generic propositions about the social world, which in turn can also be empirically tested. Examples of middle-range theories are theories of reference groups, social mobility, normalization processes, role conflict and the formation of social norms.[3] The middle-range approach has played a role in turning sociology into an increasingly empirically oriented discipline.[7] This was also important in post-war thought.
In the recent decades, the analytical sociology programme has emerged as an attempt synthesizing middle-range theories into a more coherent abstract framework (as Merton had hoped would eventually happen). Peter Hedström at Oxford is the scholar most associated with this approach,[9][verification needed] while Peter Bearman is its most prominent American advocate.
Quotesedit
"...what might be called theories of the middle range: theories intermediate to the minor working hypotheses evolved in abundance during the day-by-day routine of research, and the all-inclusive speculations comprising a master conceptual scheme." — Robert K. Merton, Social Theory and Social Structure[10]
"Our major task today is to develop special theories applicable to limited conceptual ranges – theories, for example, of deviant behavior, the unanticipated consequences of purposive action, social perception, reference groups, social control, the interdependence of social institutions – rather than to seek the total conceptual structure that is adequate to derive these and other theories of the middle range." — Robert K. Merton[4]
Cookson, Peter W. Jr.; Sadovnik, Alan R. (2002). "Functionalist Theories of Education". In Levinson, David L.; Cookson, Peter W. Jr.; Sadovnik, Alan R. (eds.). Education and Sociology: An Encyclopedia. Abingdon, England: Routledge (published 2014). pp. 267–271. doi:10.4324/9781315049250. ISBN978-1-135-57078-1.
Hedström, Peter; Udehn, Lars (2009). "Analytical Sociology and Theories of the Middle Range". In Hedström, Peter; Bearman, Peter (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 25–47. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199215362.013.2. ISBN978-0-19-921536-2.
Merton, Robert C.; Bodie, Zvi (2005). "Design of Financial Systems: Toward A Synthesis of Function and Structure" (PDF). Journal of Investment Management. 3 (1): 1–23. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
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Middle range theory developed by Robert K Merton is an approach to sociological theorizing aimed at integrating theory and empirical research It is currently the de facto dominant approach to sociological theory construction 1 especially in the United States Middle range theory starts with an empirical phenomenon as opposed to a broad abstract entity like the social system and abstracts from it to create general statements that can be verified by data 2 This approach stands in contrast to the earlier grand theorizing of social theory such as functionalism and many conflict theories Raymond Boudon has argued that middle range theory is the same concept that most other sciences simply call theory 3 The analytical sociology movement has as its aim the unification of such theories into a coherent paradigm at a greater level of abstraction Contents 1 Definition 2 History 3 Quotes 4 References 4 1 Footnotes 4 2 BibliographyDefinition editSociological theory if it is to advance significantly must proceed on these interconnected planes 1 by developing special theories from which to derive hypotheses that can be empirically investigated and 2 by evolving a progressively more general conceptual scheme that is adequate to consolidate groups of special theories Robert K Merton Social Theory and Social Structure 4 The term middle range theory does not refer to a specific theory but is rather an approach to theory construction Raymond Boudon defines middle range theory as a commitment to two ideas The first is positive and describes what such theories should do sociological theories like all scientific theories should aim to consolidate otherwise segregated hypotheses and empirical regularities if a theory is valid it explains and in other words consolidates and federates empirical regularities which on their side would appear otherwise segregated The other is negative and it relates to what theory cannot do it is hopeless and quixotic to try to determine the overarching independent variable that would operate in all social processes or to determine the essential feature of social structure or to find out the two three or four couples of concepts that would be sufficient to analyze all social phenomena 3 History editThe midrange approach was developed by Robert Merton as a departure from the general social theorizing of Talcott Parsons Merton agreed with Parsons that a narrow empiricism consisting entirely of simple statistical or observational regularities cannot arrive at successful theory However he found that Parsons formulations were remote from providing a problematics and a direction for theory oriented empirical inquiry into the observable worlds of culture and society 5 He was thus directly opposed to the abstract theorizing of scholars who are engaged in the attempt to construct a total theoretical system covering all aspects of social life With the introduction of the middle range theory programme he advocated that sociologists should concentrate on measurable aspects of social reality that can be studied as separate social phenomena rather than attempting to explain the entire social world He saw both the middle range theory approach and middle range theories themselves as temporary when they matured as natural sciences already had the body of middle range theories would become a system of universal laws but until that time social sciences should avoid trying to create a universal theory 6 Merton s original foil in the construction was Talcott Parsons whose action theory C Wright Mills later classified as a grand theory Parsons vehemently rejected this categorization Middle range theories are normally constructed by applying theory building techniques to empirical research which produce generic propositions about the social world which in turn can also be empirically tested Examples of middle range theories are theories of reference groups social mobility normalization processes role conflict and the formation of social norms 3 The middle range approach has played a role in turning sociology into an increasingly empirically oriented discipline 7 This was also important in post war thought In the post war period middle range theory became the dominant approach to theory construction in all variable based social sciences 6 Middle range theory has also been applied to the archaeological realm by Lewis R Binford and to financial theory by Robert C Merton 8 Robert K Merton s son In the recent decades the analytical sociology programme has emerged as an attempt synthesizing middle range theories into a more coherent abstract framework as Merton had hoped would eventually happen Peter Hedstrom at Oxford is the scholar most associated with this approach 9 verification needed while Peter Bearman is its most prominent American advocate Quotes edit what might be called theories of the middle range theories intermediate to the minor working hypotheses evolved in abundance during the day by day routine of research and the all inclusive speculations comprising a master conceptual scheme Robert K Merton Social Theory and Social Structure 10 Our major task today is to develop special theories applicable to limited conceptual ranges theories for example of deviant behavior the unanticipated consequences of purposive action social perception reference groups social control the interdependence of social institutions rather than to seek the total conceptual structure that is adequate to derive these and other theories of the middle range Robert K Merton 4 References editFootnotes edit Bailey 1991 M K Merton 1968 sfn error no target CITEREFM K Merton1968 help a b c Boudon 1991 a b R K Merton 1968 p 51 Robert K Merton California State University Dominguez Hills a b Mjoset Lars 1999 Understanding of Theory in the Social Sciences ARENA working papers Cookson amp Sadovnik 2002 p 269 R C Merton amp Bodie 2005 Spedding 2006 Hedstrom amp Udehn 2009 Extracts from Robert King Merton Bibliography edit Bailey Kenneth D 1991 Alternative Procedures for Macrosociological Theorizing Quality and Quantity 25 1 37 55 doi 10 1007 BF00138755 ISSN 1573 7845 S2CID 144985255 Boudon Raymond 1991 What Middle Range Theories Are Contemporary Sociology 20 4 519 522 doi 10 2307 2071781 ISSN 1939 8638 JSTOR 2071781 Cookson Peter W Jr Sadovnik Alan R 2002 Functionalist Theories of Education In Levinson David L Cookson Peter W Jr Sadovnik Alan R eds Education and Sociology An Encyclopedia Abingdon England Routledge published 2014 pp 267 271 doi 10 4324 9781315049250 ISBN 978 1 135 57078 1 Hedstrom Peter Udehn Lars 2009 Analytical Sociology and Theories of the Middle Range In Hedstrom Peter Bearman Peter eds The Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology Oxford Oxford University Press pp 25 47 doi 10 1093 oxfordhb 9780199215362 013 2 ISBN 978 0 19 921536 2 Merton Robert C Bodie Zvi 2005 Design of Financial Systems Toward A Synthesis of Function and Structure PDF Journal of Investment Management 3 1 1 23 Retrieved 13 February 2019 Merton Robert K 1968 Social Theory and Social Structure 1968 enlarged ed New York Free Press ISBN 978 0 02 921130 4 Spedding Vanessa 2006 Scholarly Approach Brings Sweeping Change PDF Quantitative Finance 2 2 84 85 doi 10 1088 1469 7688 2 2 601 ISSN 1469 7696 S2CID 154796843 Retrieved 13 February 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Middle range theory sociology amp oldid 1213034552, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
