Theoretical synthesis in sociology: historical, methodological and typological aspects
stmm. 2025 (3): 77-102
DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2025.03.077
Full text: https://stmm.in.ua/archive/ukr/2025-3/6.pdf
OLEKSANDR REZNIK, Doctor of Sciences in Sociology, Principal Research Fellow at the Department of Social Expertise, Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (12, Shovkovychna St., Kyiv, 01021)
oleksanderreznik@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5201-8489
SCOPUS ID: 57202520976
OLEG KOZLOVSKIY, Candidate of Sciences in Philosophy, Senior Research Fellow at the Department of History and Theory of Sociology, Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (12, Shovkovychna St., Kyiv, 01021)
alic.uss4@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9619-1347
The article presents the results of developing the problems of history, methodology, and typology of theoretical synthesis in sociology based on a review and analysis of its various interpretations. The authors observed a change in the nature of the reflection on the practice of this immanent method of theorizing in the theoretical discourse of sociology. During the twentieth century, there was a transition from a predominantly implicit to an explicit and declarative application of theoretical synthesis in sociology. The excessive hopes of sociologists for the general integration, unification, and cumulation of sociological theorizing through synthesis have given way to disappointment with the results obtained. Subsequently, sociologists demonstrate the application of the theoretical synthesis method for the implementation of more modest scientific projects. Along with attempts at general theoretical synthesis, there are more and more attempts at specialized theoretical synthesis to solve practical problems. Such differentiation of theoretical synthesis can be considered as a certain typology of it according to its subject scope. The strategies of positivist synthesis are hypothetically differentiated into its early positivist (O. Comte), instrumental-positivist (W. Wallace, J. Turner, etc.) and post-positivist (T. Fararo, J. Skvorets) versions (however, this assumption requires a separate, deeper development).
Keywords: theory, history of sociology, theoretical synthesis, types of theoretical synthesis, positivism, post-positivism
References:
Alexander, J. (1992a). New theoretical directions in sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 2, 121-130.
Alexander, J. (1992b). New theoretical directions in sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 4, 132-156.
Collins, R. (1993). Conflict Theory in Modern Macrohistorical Sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 6, 81-98.
Fararo, T.J. (1989). The Spirit of Unification in Sociological Theory. Sociological Theory, 7(2), 175-190. https://doi.org/10.2307/201894
Fararo, T.J. (1993). General Social Equilibrium: Toward Theoretical Synthesis. Sociological Theory, 11(3), 291-313. https://doi.org/10.2307/201972
Fararo, T.J. (2001). Social Action Systems: Foundation and Synthesis in Sociological Theory. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
Fararo, T.J., Skvoretz, J. (1987). Unification Research Programs: Integrating Two Structural Theories. American Journal of Sociology, 92(5), 1183-1209. https://doi.org/10.1086/228632
Fedorchenko-Kutuyev, P. (1993a). Two versions of T. Parsons' sociology: R. Munch and J. Alexander. Article one. Theory of action from a Kantian perspective: an interpretation of Richard Munch. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and sociological thought, 7-8, 29-52.
Fedorchenko-Kutuyev, P. (1993b). Two versions of T. Parsons' sociology: R. Munch and J. Alexander. Article two. J. Alexander's neofunctionalist research program. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 9-10, 48-71.
Giddens, A. (1987). Nine theses on the future of sociology. In: A. Giddens, Social Theory and Modern Sociology (pp. 22-51). Cambridge: Polity Press.
Golovakha, Ye. (2004). Sociological knowledge: specifics, criteria of scientificity and development prospects. [In Ukrainian]. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 1, 5-14.
Holmwood, J., Stewart, A. (1994). Synthesis and Fragmentation in Social Theory: A Progressive Solution. Sociological Theory, 12(1), 83-100. https://doi.org/10.2307/202037
Johnson, T., Dandeker, Ch., Ashworth, C. (1984). Theoretical sociology: the conditions of fragmentation and unity. In: T. Johnson, Ch. Dandeker, C. Ashworth, The Structure of Social Theory: Dilemmas and Strategies (pp. 1-28). London: Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-17679-3_1
Kalberg, S. (2007). A Cross-National Consensus on a Unified Sociological Theory? Some Inter-Cultural Obstacles. European Journal of Social Theory, 10(2), 206-219. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368431007078882
Kutuyev (Fedorchenko-Kutuyev), P.V. (2016). Transformations of Modernity: Institutions, Ideas, Ideologies: Monograph. [In Ukrainian]. Kherson: Helvetica Publishing House.
Lupatsii, V.S. (1995). O. Comte's Positivist Synthesis. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 9-10, 145-151.
Moravcsik, A. (2003). Theory synthesis in international relations: real not metaphysical. International Studies Review, 5(1), 131-136. https://doi.org/10.1111/1521-9488.501019_4
O'Neill, J., Turner, B.S. (2001). Introduction - The fragmentation of sociology. Journal of Classical Sociology, 1(1), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687950122232431
Osypchuk, A. (2007). Margaret Archer's theory of morphogenesis as an attempt at a "structure-agency" synthesis. [In Ukrainian]. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 2, 150-163.
Osypchuk, A. D. (2004). Synthesis of the levels of "structure" - "agent" in Pierre Bourdieu's reflexive sociology. [In Ukrainian]. NaUKMA Research Papers. Sociological Sciences, 32, 48-55.
Osypchuk, A.D. (2006). Nikos Mouzelis' synthetic sociological theory. [In Ukrainian]. NaUKMA Research Papers. Sociological sciences, 58, 13-17. Retrieved from: https://ekmair.ukma.edu.ua/handle/123456789/9638
Osypchuk, A.D. (2013). Habitus as a mechanism for the synthesis of structure and agency in Pierre Bourdieu's sociological theory. [In Ukrainian]. NaUKMA Research Papers. Sociological Sciences, 148, 3-10. Retrieved from: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/NaUKMAs_2013_148_3
Osypchuk, A.D. (2014a). On the issue of theoretical synthesis in modern sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Bulletin of the National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute". Political Science. Sociology. Law, 3/4 (23/24), 79-85.
Osypchuk, A.D. (2014b). Structuration, space and time: a reconstruction of Anthony Giddens' attempt to build a theory of the synthesis of "structure-agency". [In Ukrainian]. Edges, 11, 112-118. Retrieved from: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/Grani_2014_11_23
Osypchuk, A.D. (2015). Structure, agency and social system in Anthony Giddens' theory of structuration. [In Ukrainian]. Edges, 12, 74-79.
Ozanne, H. (1945). "Synthesis" in social science. Sociometry, 8(2), 208-215. https://doi.org/10.2307/2785240
Pound, P., Campbell, R. (2015). Exploring the feasibility of theory synthesis: A worked example in the field of health related risk-taking. Social Science & Medicine, 124, 57-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.11.029
Pypych, A. (2019). Post non-classical synthesis of knowledge and social science. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophy of Education, 2(25), 151-168. https://doi.org/10.31874/2309-1606-2019-25-2-9
Ritzer, G. (1990a). Micro-macro linkage in sociological theory: applying a metatheoretical tool. In: G. Ritzer (Ed.), Frontiers of Social Theory. The New Syntheses (pp. 347-370). New York: Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/ritz91254-014
Ritzer, G. (1990b). The current status of sociological theory: the new syntheses. In: G. Ritzer (Ed.), Frontiers of Social Theory. The New Syntheses (pp. 1-32). New York: Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/ritz91254-002
Ritzer, J. (1994a). Micro-macro linkage in sociological theory: applying a metatheoretical tool. In: Sociological theory today. A collection of articles by American and Ukrainian theorists / Ed by V. Tancher (pp. 68-86). [In Russian]. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, NAS of Ukraine.
Ritzer, J. (1994b). The current status of sociological theory: the new syntheses. In: Sociological theory today. A collection of articles by American and Ukrainian theorists / Ed by V. Tancher (pp. 24-44). [In Russian]. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, NAS of Ukraine.
Ruchka, A.A., Tancher, V. (1992). Essays on the History of Sociological Thought. [In Russian]. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka.
Ruchka, A.O., Tancher, V.V. (1995). Course of the History of Theoretical Sociology. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka.
Shelukhin, V.A. (2015). Micro-macro theoretical synthesis in the concept of norms by D. Coleman. [In Ukrainian]. SOCIOPROSTIR: Interdisciplinary Electronic Collection of Scientific Papers in Sociology and Social Work, 4, 9-16. Retrieved from: https://periodicals.karazin.ua/socioprostir/article/view/4234
Sobolevska, M. (2013). Social order and social integration through the prism of E. Giddens' synthetic sociological theory. [In Ukrainian]. Current Problems of Sociology, Psychology and Pedagogy, 18, 19-27.
Sobolevska, M. (2014). The Order of Discourse of Order: Neofunctionalism and Poststructuralism in Modern Sociological Theory: Monograph. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: Logos.
Sobolevska, M.O. (2011). Poststructuralist strategy of categorical synthesis of P. Bourdieu's sociological theory as an attempt at conceptual rethinking of integrative principles of social life. Current Problems of Sociology, Psychology and Pedagogy, 12, 10-17.
Sudakov, V.I. (2019). Theoretical synthesis in sociology as a reflexive process and logical-epistemological procedure. [In Ukrainian]. Current Problems of Sociology, Psychology, Pedagogy. Series "Sociological Sciences", 4(43), 4-12.
Tancher, V. (Ed.). (1994). Sociological Theory Today: A Collection of Articles by American and Ukrainian Theorists. [In Russian]. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, NAS of Ukraine.
Tancher, V. (1996). Sociological thought of Ukraine against the background of world sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 1-2, 18-26.
Turner, J. (1992). The rise and fall of empires: a sociological theory. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 6, 83-98.
Turner, J.H. (1990). The misuse and use of metatheory. Sociological Forum, 5(1), 37-53. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01115136
Turner, J.H. (1991). Developing cumulative and practical knowledge through metatheorizing. Sociological Perspectives, 34(3), 249-268. https://doi.org/10.2307/1389510
Van den Berghe, P.L. (1963). Dialectic and functionalism: toward a theoretical synthesis. American Sociological Review, 28(5), 695-705. https://doi.org/10.2307/2089908
Wallace, W. (1994). On the disciplinary matrix in sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 1-2, 103-117.
Wallace, W.L. (1968). Toward a theoretic synthesis in sociology. The Sociological Quarterly, 9(4), 440-478. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-8525.1968.tb01070.x
Willy, N. (1990). The history and politics of recent sociological theory. In: G. Ritzer (Ed.), Frontiers of Social Theory. The New Syntheses (pp. 392-416). New York: Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/ritz91254-016
Received 19.03.2025
Theoretical synthesis in sociology: historical, methodological and typological aspects
stmm. 2025 (3): 77-102
DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/sociology2025.03.077
Full text: https://stmm.in.ua/archive/ukr/2025-3/6.pdf
OLEKSANDR REZNIK, Doctor of Sciences in Sociology, Principal Research Fellow at the Department of Social Expertise, Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (12, Shovkovychna St., Kyiv, 01021)
oleksanderreznik@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5201-8489
SCOPUS ID: 57202520976
OLEG KOZLOVSKIY, Candidate of Sciences in Philosophy, Senior Research Fellow at the Department of History and Theory of Sociology, Institute of Sociology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (12, Shovkovychna St., Kyiv, 01021)
alic.uss4@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9619-1347
The article presents the results of developing the problems of history, methodology, and typology of theoretical synthesis in sociology based on a review and analysis of its various interpretations. The authors observed a change in the nature of the reflection on the practice of this immanent method of theorizing in the theoretical discourse of sociology. During the twentieth century, there was a transition from a predominantly implicit to an explicit and declarative application of theoretical synthesis in sociology. The excessive hopes of sociologists for the general integration, unification, and cumulation of sociological theorizing through synthesis have given way to disappointment with the results obtained. Subsequently, sociologists demonstrate the application of the theoretical synthesis method for the implementation of more modest scientific projects. Along with attempts at general theoretical synthesis, there are more and more attempts at specialized theoretical synthesis to solve practical problems. Such differentiation of theoretical synthesis can be considered as a certain typology of it according to its subject scope. The strategies of positivist synthesis are hypothetically differentiated into its early positivist (O. Comte), instrumental-positivist (W. Wallace, J. Turner, etc.) and post-positivist (T. Fararo, J. Skvorets) versions (however, this assumption requires a separate, deeper development).
Keywords: theory, history of sociology, theoretical synthesis, types of theoretical synthesis, positivism, post-positivism
References:
Alexander, J. (1992a). New theoretical directions in sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 2, 121-130.
Alexander, J. (1992b). New theoretical directions in sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 4, 132-156.
Collins, R. (1993). Conflict Theory in Modern Macrohistorical Sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 6, 81-98.
Fararo, T.J. (1989). The Spirit of Unification in Sociological Theory. Sociological Theory, 7(2), 175-190. https://doi.org/10.2307/201894
Fararo, T.J. (1993). General Social Equilibrium: Toward Theoretical Synthesis. Sociological Theory, 11(3), 291-313. https://doi.org/10.2307/201972
Fararo, T.J. (2001). Social Action Systems: Foundation and Synthesis in Sociological Theory. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
Fararo, T.J., Skvoretz, J. (1987). Unification Research Programs: Integrating Two Structural Theories. American Journal of Sociology, 92(5), 1183-1209. https://doi.org/10.1086/228632
Fedorchenko-Kutuyev, P. (1993a). Two versions of T. Parsons' sociology: R. Munch and J. Alexander. Article one. Theory of action from a Kantian perspective: an interpretation of Richard Munch. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and sociological thought, 7-8, 29-52.
Fedorchenko-Kutuyev, P. (1993b). Two versions of T. Parsons' sociology: R. Munch and J. Alexander. Article two. J. Alexander's neofunctionalist research program. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 9-10, 48-71.
Giddens, A. (1987). Nine theses on the future of sociology. In: A. Giddens, Social Theory and Modern Sociology (pp. 22-51). Cambridge: Polity Press.
Golovakha, Ye. (2004). Sociological knowledge: specifics, criteria of scientificity and development prospects. [In Ukrainian]. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 1, 5-14.
Holmwood, J., Stewart, A. (1994). Synthesis and Fragmentation in Social Theory: A Progressive Solution. Sociological Theory, 12(1), 83-100. https://doi.org/10.2307/202037
Johnson, T., Dandeker, Ch., Ashworth, C. (1984). Theoretical sociology: the conditions of fragmentation and unity. In: T. Johnson, Ch. Dandeker, C. Ashworth, The Structure of Social Theory: Dilemmas and Strategies (pp. 1-28). London: Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-17679-3_1
Kalberg, S. (2007). A Cross-National Consensus on a Unified Sociological Theory? Some Inter-Cultural Obstacles. European Journal of Social Theory, 10(2), 206-219. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368431007078882
Kutuyev (Fedorchenko-Kutuyev), P.V. (2016). Transformations of Modernity: Institutions, Ideas, Ideologies: Monograph. [In Ukrainian]. Kherson: Helvetica Publishing House.
Lupatsii, V.S. (1995). O. Comte's Positivist Synthesis. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 9-10, 145-151.
Moravcsik, A. (2003). Theory synthesis in international relations: real not metaphysical. International Studies Review, 5(1), 131-136. https://doi.org/10.1111/1521-9488.501019_4
O'Neill, J., Turner, B.S. (2001). Introduction - The fragmentation of sociology. Journal of Classical Sociology, 1(1), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/14687950122232431
Osypchuk, A. (2007). Margaret Archer's theory of morphogenesis as an attempt at a "structure-agency" synthesis. [In Ukrainian]. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 2, 150-163.
Osypchuk, A. D. (2004). Synthesis of the levels of "structure" - "agent" in Pierre Bourdieu's reflexive sociology. [In Ukrainian]. NaUKMA Research Papers. Sociological Sciences, 32, 48-55.
Osypchuk, A.D. (2006). Nikos Mouzelis' synthetic sociological theory. [In Ukrainian]. NaUKMA Research Papers. Sociological sciences, 58, 13-17. Retrieved from: https://ekmair.ukma.edu.ua/handle/123456789/9638
Osypchuk, A.D. (2013). Habitus as a mechanism for the synthesis of structure and agency in Pierre Bourdieu's sociological theory. [In Ukrainian]. NaUKMA Research Papers. Sociological Sciences, 148, 3-10. Retrieved from: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/NaUKMAs_2013_148_3
Osypchuk, A.D. (2014a). On the issue of theoretical synthesis in modern sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Bulletin of the National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute". Political Science. Sociology. Law, 3/4 (23/24), 79-85.
Osypchuk, A.D. (2014b). Structuration, space and time: a reconstruction of Anthony Giddens' attempt to build a theory of the synthesis of "structure-agency". [In Ukrainian]. Edges, 11, 112-118. Retrieved from: http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/Grani_2014_11_23
Osypchuk, A.D. (2015). Structure, agency and social system in Anthony Giddens' theory of structuration. [In Ukrainian]. Edges, 12, 74-79.
Ozanne, H. (1945). "Synthesis" in social science. Sociometry, 8(2), 208-215. https://doi.org/10.2307/2785240
Pound, P., Campbell, R. (2015). Exploring the feasibility of theory synthesis: A worked example in the field of health related risk-taking. Social Science & Medicine, 124, 57-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.11.029
Pypych, A. (2019). Post non-classical synthesis of knowledge and social science. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophy of Education, 2(25), 151-168. https://doi.org/10.31874/2309-1606-2019-25-2-9
Ritzer, G. (1990a). Micro-macro linkage in sociological theory: applying a metatheoretical tool. In: G. Ritzer (Ed.), Frontiers of Social Theory. The New Syntheses (pp. 347-370). New York: Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/ritz91254-014
Ritzer, G. (1990b). The current status of sociological theory: the new syntheses. In: G. Ritzer (Ed.), Frontiers of Social Theory. The New Syntheses (pp. 1-32). New York: Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/ritz91254-002
Ritzer, J. (1994a). Micro-macro linkage in sociological theory: applying a metatheoretical tool. In: Sociological theory today. A collection of articles by American and Ukrainian theorists / Ed by V. Tancher (pp. 68-86). [In Russian]. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, NAS of Ukraine.
Ritzer, J. (1994b). The current status of sociological theory: the new syntheses. In: Sociological theory today. A collection of articles by American and Ukrainian theorists / Ed by V. Tancher (pp. 24-44). [In Russian]. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, NAS of Ukraine.
Ruchka, A.A., Tancher, V. (1992). Essays on the History of Sociological Thought. [In Russian]. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka.
Ruchka, A.O., Tancher, V.V. (1995). Course of the History of Theoretical Sociology. Kyiv: Naukova Dumka.
Shelukhin, V.A. (2015). Micro-macro theoretical synthesis in the concept of norms by D. Coleman. [In Ukrainian]. SOCIOPROSTIR: Interdisciplinary Electronic Collection of Scientific Papers in Sociology and Social Work, 4, 9-16. Retrieved from: https://periodicals.karazin.ua/socioprostir/article/view/4234
Sobolevska, M. (2013). Social order and social integration through the prism of E. Giddens' synthetic sociological theory. [In Ukrainian]. Current Problems of Sociology, Psychology and Pedagogy, 18, 19-27.
Sobolevska, M. (2014). The Order of Discourse of Order: Neofunctionalism and Poststructuralism in Modern Sociological Theory: Monograph. [In Ukrainian]. Kyiv: Logos.
Sobolevska, M.O. (2011). Poststructuralist strategy of categorical synthesis of P. Bourdieu's sociological theory as an attempt at conceptual rethinking of integrative principles of social life. Current Problems of Sociology, Psychology and Pedagogy, 12, 10-17.
Sudakov, V.I. (2019). Theoretical synthesis in sociology as a reflexive process and logical-epistemological procedure. [In Ukrainian]. Current Problems of Sociology, Psychology, Pedagogy. Series "Sociological Sciences", 4(43), 4-12.
Tancher, V. (Ed.). (1994). Sociological Theory Today: A Collection of Articles by American and Ukrainian Theorists. [In Russian]. Kyiv: Institute of Sociology, NAS of Ukraine.
Tancher, V. (1996). Sociological thought of Ukraine against the background of world sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 1-2, 18-26.
Turner, J. (1992). The rise and fall of empires: a sociological theory. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 6, 83-98.
Turner, J.H. (1990). The misuse and use of metatheory. Sociological Forum, 5(1), 37-53. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01115136
Turner, J.H. (1991). Developing cumulative and practical knowledge through metatheorizing. Sociological Perspectives, 34(3), 249-268. https://doi.org/10.2307/1389510
Van den Berghe, P.L. (1963). Dialectic and functionalism: toward a theoretical synthesis. American Sociological Review, 28(5), 695-705. https://doi.org/10.2307/2089908
Wallace, W. (1994). On the disciplinary matrix in sociology. [In Ukrainian]. Philosophical and Sociological Thought, 1-2, 103-117.
Wallace, W.L. (1968). Toward a theoretic synthesis in sociology. The Sociological Quarterly, 9(4), 440-478. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-8525.1968.tb01070.x
Willy, N. (1990). The history and politics of recent sociological theory. In: G. Ritzer (Ed.), Frontiers of Social Theory. The New Syntheses (pp. 392-416). New York: Columbia University Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/ritz91254-016
Received 19.03.2025