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Research programs and the progress of theory in sociology: the post-positivist conception of J. Berger, M. Zelditch Jr. and D. Wagner

stmm. 2024 (2): 137-162

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2024.02.137

Full text: https://stmm.in.ua/archive/ukr/2024-2/10.pdf

VOLODYMYR REZNIK, Doctor of Sciences in Sociology, Head of the Department of History and Theory of Sociology, Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (12, Shovkovychna St., Kyiv, 01021)

volodymyr.reznik@gmail.com

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9955-0034

The article presents an explanation of the post-positivist conception of the progress of sociological theories in research programs, which was developed by J. Berger, M. Zelditch Jr. and D. Wagner. Their conception specified related types of theoretical structure and dynamics of research programs, as well as their functions in sociological theorizing. Structural and dynamic differences of research programs represent different types of conceptual connections between theories and their corresponding basic modes of theoretical growth. In particular, the elaboration of theories of certain explanatory domains by increasing their scope, rigor, precision, or empirical relevance is a mode of progress of linear programs. The proliferation of theories into new explanatory domains and the expansion of the subject range of their applicability is the mode of development of branching programs. The competition of theories in a certain explained domain for the best conceptual representation of its problems is a mode of progress of competing programs. Special types of conceptual connections and modes of theoretical progress may also emerge between theories in linear, branching, and competing research programs: variation of theories as a result of deepening them into their established subject domains due to increased conceptual insight, sophistication and detail; integration of theories. The theoretical development of research programs is provided by their functions, which are analogous to the functions of paradigms in mature sciences: determination of theoretical significance and doability of sociological problems; evaluation and cognitive-based selection of competing theoretical formulations of their solutions; ensuring synergy of the consequences of performing the above-mentioned functions.

Keywords: postpositivism, scientific paradigm, theory, research program, elaboration, proliferation, competition, variation, integration

References

  1. Berger, J., Willer, D., Zelditch, M. (2005). Theory Programs and Theoretical Problems. Sociological Theory, 23(2), 127-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0735-2751.2005.00247.x

  2. Cole, S. (2001). Why Sociology Doesn't Make Progress Like the Natural Sciences. In: S. Cole (Ed.), What's Wrong with Sociology? (pp. 37-60). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books.

  3. Heidtman, J., Wysienska, K., Szmatka, J. (2000). Positivism and Types of Theories in Sociology. Sociological Focus, 33(1), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380237.2000.10571154

  4. Kuhn, T.S. (2001). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: Port-Royal.

  5. Kutuev, P. (2005). Conceptions of development and modernization: the evolution of research programs of sociological discours. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: Steel. http://www.sociology.kpi.ua/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Kutuev.pdf

  6. Kutuev, P. (2017). Modern(s): history, theories and practices. Sociological interpretation: monograph. [In Ukrainian]. Kherson: Helvetica Publishing House.

  7. Maines, D.R., Molseed, M.J. (1986). Obsessive Discoverer's Complex and the "Discovery" of Growth in Sociological Theory. American Journal of Sociology, 92(1), 158-164. https://doi.org/10.1086/228466

  8. Malysh, L.O. (2019). Principles and rules of measurement of structural inequalities in sociology: monograph. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

  9. Pylypenko, V. (2019). Metatheoretical trends in sociology at the beginning of the XXI century. In: V. Reznik (Ed.), Sociological Metatheorizing: History and Present Day (pp. 319-324). Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, NAS of Ukraine.

  10. Reznik, V. (2021). Analysis of research programs: a sociological perspective. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 4, 104-128. https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2021.04.104

  11. Reznik, V. (2022). Ideas of postpositivism in sociology: the reception by J. Berger, M. Zelditch Jr. and D.G. Wagner. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 3, 161-185. https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2022.03.161

  12. Reznik, V. (2023). Theorizing in sociology: postpositivist typology of J. Berger, M. Zelditch Jr. and D. Wagner. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 2, 116-142. https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2023.02.116

  13. Seidman, S. (1986). Is There Theoretical Growth in Sociology? Comment on Wagner and Berger. American Journal of Sociology, 92(1), 164-168. https://doi.org/10.1086/228467

  14. Szmatka, J., Lovaglia, M.J. (1996). The Significance of Method. Sociological Perspectives, 39(3), 393-415. https://doi.org/10.2307/1389254

  15. Szmatka, J., Mazur, J. (1996). Orienting Strategies, Working Strategies and Theoretical Research Programs in Social Exchange Theory. Polish Sociological Review, 115, 265-288.

  16. Wagner, D.G., Berger, J. (1985). Do Sociological Theories Grow? American Journal of Sociology, 90(4), 697-728. https://doi.org/10.1086/228142

  17. Wagner, D.G., Berger, J. (1986). Programs, Theory, and Metatheory. American Journal of Sociology, 92(1), 168-182. https://doi.org/10.1086/228468

  18. Wagner, D.G. (2009). Theoretical Research Programs. In: G. Ritzer (Ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (pp. 4984-4987). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

  19. Zelditch, M. Jr. (1979). Do Multiple Strategies Converge? Society, 16(5), 25-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02697730

Received 02.03.2024

Research programs and the progress of theory in sociology: the post-positivist conception of J. Berger, M. Zelditch Jr. and D. Wagner

stmm. 2024 (2): 137-162

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2024.02.137

Full text: https://stmm.in.ua/archive/ukr/2024-2/10.pdf

VOLODYMYR REZNIK, Doctor of Sciences in Sociology, Head of the Department of History and Theory of Sociology, Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (12, Shovkovychna St., Kyiv, 01021)

volodymyr.reznik@gmail.com

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9955-0034

The article presents an explanation of the post-positivist conception of the progress of sociological theories in research programs, which was developed by J. Berger, M. Zelditch Jr. and D. Wagner. Their conception specified related types of theoretical structure and dynamics of research programs, as well as their functions in sociological theorizing. Structural and dynamic differences of research programs represent different types of conceptual connections between theories and their corresponding basic modes of theoretical growth. In particular, the elaboration of theories of certain explanatory domains by increasing their scope, rigor, precision, or empirical relevance is a mode of progress of linear programs. The proliferation of theories into new explanatory domains and the expansion of the subject range of their applicability is the mode of development of branching programs. The competition of theories in a certain explained domain for the best conceptual representation of its problems is a mode of progress of competing programs. Special types of conceptual connections and modes of theoretical progress may also emerge between theories in linear, branching, and competing research programs: variation of theories as a result of deepening them into their established subject domains due to increased conceptual insight, sophistication and detail; integration of theories. The theoretical development of research programs is provided by their functions, which are analogous to the functions of paradigms in mature sciences: determination of theoretical significance and doability of sociological problems; evaluation and cognitive-based selection of competing theoretical formulations of their solutions; ensuring synergy of the consequences of performing the above-mentioned functions.

Keywords: postpositivism, scientific paradigm, theory, research program, elaboration, proliferation, competition, variation, integration

References

  1. Berger, J., Willer, D., Zelditch, M. (2005). Theory Programs and Theoretical Problems. Sociological Theory, 23(2), 127-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0735-2751.2005.00247.x

  2. Cole, S. (2001). Why Sociology Doesn't Make Progress Like the Natural Sciences. In: S. Cole (Ed.), What's Wrong with Sociology? (pp. 37-60). New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books.

  3. Heidtman, J., Wysienska, K., Szmatka, J. (2000). Positivism and Types of Theories in Sociology. Sociological Focus, 33(1), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380237.2000.10571154

  4. Kuhn, T.S. (2001). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: Port-Royal.

  5. Kutuev, P. (2005). Conceptions of development and modernization: the evolution of research programs of sociological discours. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: Steel. http://www.sociology.kpi.ua/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Kutuev.pdf

  6. Kutuev, P. (2017). Modern(s): history, theories and practices. Sociological interpretation: monograph. [In Ukrainian]. Kherson: Helvetica Publishing House.

  7. Maines, D.R., Molseed, M.J. (1986). Obsessive Discoverer's Complex and the "Discovery" of Growth in Sociological Theory. American Journal of Sociology, 92(1), 158-164. https://doi.org/10.1086/228466

  8. Malysh, L.O. (2019). Principles and rules of measurement of structural inequalities in sociology: monograph. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

  9. Pylypenko, V. (2019). Metatheoretical trends in sociology at the beginning of the XXI century. In: V. Reznik (Ed.), Sociological Metatheorizing: History and Present Day (pp. 319-324). Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, NAS of Ukraine.

  10. Reznik, V. (2021). Analysis of research programs: a sociological perspective. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 4, 104-128. https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2021.04.104

  11. Reznik, V. (2022). Ideas of postpositivism in sociology: the reception by J. Berger, M. Zelditch Jr. and D.G. Wagner. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 3, 161-185. https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2022.03.161

  12. Reznik, V. (2023). Theorizing in sociology: postpositivist typology of J. Berger, M. Zelditch Jr. and D. Wagner. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 2, 116-142. https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2023.02.116

  13. Seidman, S. (1986). Is There Theoretical Growth in Sociology? Comment on Wagner and Berger. American Journal of Sociology, 92(1), 164-168. https://doi.org/10.1086/228467

  14. Szmatka, J., Lovaglia, M.J. (1996). The Significance of Method. Sociological Perspectives, 39(3), 393-415. https://doi.org/10.2307/1389254

  15. Szmatka, J., Mazur, J. (1996). Orienting Strategies, Working Strategies and Theoretical Research Programs in Social Exchange Theory. Polish Sociological Review, 115, 265-288.

  16. Wagner, D.G., Berger, J. (1985). Do Sociological Theories Grow? American Journal of Sociology, 90(4), 697-728. https://doi.org/10.1086/228142

  17. Wagner, D.G., Berger, J. (1986). Programs, Theory, and Metatheory. American Journal of Sociology, 92(1), 168-182. https://doi.org/10.1086/228468

  18. Wagner, D.G. (2009). Theoretical Research Programs. In: G. Ritzer (Ed.), The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (pp. 4984-4987). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

  19. Zelditch, M. Jr. (1979). Do Multiple Strategies Converge? Society, 16(5), 25-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02697730

Received 02.03.2024

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