Functionalism, Exchange and Theoretical Strategy (RLE Social Theory)
1st Edition
Published on 13. August 2014
272 pages
978-1-317-65184-0 (ISBN)
Description
M.J. Mulkay traces the development of certain recent versions of functionalism and exchange theory in sociology, with special attention to 'theoretical strategy'. He uses this term to refer to the policies which theorists adopt to ensure that their work contributes to their long range theoretical objectives. Such strategies are important, he believes, because they place limits on the theories with which they are associated. He shows how each of the theorists he studies devised a new strategy to replace the unsuccessful policies of a prior theory in a process of 'strategical dialectic'. This often has unforeseen consequences for the direction of theoretical growth, and the author interprets changes in theoretical perspective largely as products of these strategical innovations.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
File size
13,54 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-317-65184-0 (9781317651840)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
10/2016
1st Edition
Routledge
€76.94
Shipment within 10-20 days
Book
08/2014
1st Edition
Routledge
€193.50
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
Michael Mulkay
Content
1. Introduction 2. A General Theory of Society: Pareto 3. Structural-Functionalism as a Theoretical Alternative: Parsons 4. An Assessment of Parson's Scheme 5. A Second Functional Alternative: Merton 6. Functionalism Rejected: Homans 7. A Theory of Social Exchange: Homans 8. A Conceptual Elaboration of Exchange Theory: Blau 9. Sociological Theory and Theoretical Strategy
