Peter Abell

Biographic Data

ID79672
NAMEPeter Abell
GIVEN NAMESPeter
FAMILY NAMEAbell
SIGNATUREABELL P
AFFILIATIONSLondon School of Economics and Political Science
VERIFIEDNo
TOTAL WORKS66
TOTAL CITATIONS267
AUTHOR COUNT66
EDITOR COUNT0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR1967
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2021
H-INDEX10

  • Subjective Causality and Counterfactuals in the Social Sciences: Toward an Ethnographic Causality

    Open AccessPeter Abell, O EngelARTICLESociological Methods & Research2021References: 17

    The article explores the role that subjective evidence of causality and associated counterfactuals and counterpotentials might play in the social sciences where comparative cases are scarce. This scarcity rules out statistical inference based upon frequencies and usually invites in-depth ethnographic studies. Thus, if causality is to be preserved in such situations, a conception of ethnographic causal inference is required. Ethnographic causality…

  • Structural Balance Theory: Recent Developments

    Open AccessPeter AbellCHAPTERInternational Encyclopedia of the…2015

  • The influence of structural balance and homophily/heterophobia on the adjustment of random complete signed networks

    Open AccessH Deng, Peter Abell et al.ARTICLESocial Networks2015

  • A study of sign adjustment in weighted signed networks

    Open AccessH Deng, Peter Abell et al.ARTICLESocial Networks2012

  • Analytical Sociology and Social Mechanisms

    Open AccessRaymond Boudon, Jon Elster et al.BOOKAnalytical Sociology and Social…2011

    Mechanisms are very much a part of social life. For example, we can see that inequality has tended to increase over time, and that cities can become segregated. But how do such mechanisms work? Analytical sociology is an influential approach to sociology which holds that explanations of social phenomena should focus on the social mechanisms that bring them about. This book evaluates the major features of this approach, focusing on the significanc…

  • A Study of Local Sign Change Adjustment in Balancing Structures

    H Deng, Peter AbellARTICLEJournal of Mathematical Sociology2010Cited by: 5References: 6

    The adjustment of signed structures (symmetric positive and negative relations) under a local (myopic) sign-change dynamic is studied both analytically and through simulation. Models deriving from various theories but notably balance theory are inspected to determine the convergent properties of the dynamic process

  • Structural Balance: A Dynamic Perspective

    Peter Abell, Mark LudwigARTICLEJournal of Mathematical Sociology2009Cited by: 4References: 8

    The paper presents results derived from a series of simulations of signed networks (i.e., networks containing positive and negative links) subject to a balancing process. The dynamics are followed in a space defined by variations in the proportion of positive links introduced and the tolerance to imbalance. The authors claim to have discovered boundaries in the space separating it into three distinct regions. One region probably displays the char…

  • A Case for Cases: Comparative Narratives in Sociological Explanation

    Open AccessPeter AbellARTICLESociological Methods & Research2009Cited by: 11References: 8

    When case studies are constructed as narratives, then causal explanation can be achieved without either comparison or generalization. Narratives provide paths of causal links on a chronology of actions or events. The links, in turn, can be studied as Bayesian inferences generating Bayesian narratives. The causal paths in a narrative have a Boolean structure

  • Are Reasons Explanations

    Open AccessPeter AbellARTICLEContemporary Sociology A Journal…2007Cited by: 1

  • On the Prospects For a Unified Social Science: Economics and Sociology

    Open AccessPeter AbellARTICLEPapers Revista de Sociologia2006Cited by: 1

    Aquest article argumenta a favor d’una col·laboració més estreta entre l’economia i la sociologia. Aquesta última podria beneficiar-se del rigor intel·lectual de la primera. La construcció d’una socioeconomia unificada requereix una aproximació intel·lectual entre la concepció sociològica de la interacció social i una versió suavitzada de l’elecció racional. La teoria de jocs evolutiva pot proporcionar un camí prometedor en aquest sentit.

  • Narrative Explanation: An Alternative to Variable-Centered Explanation

    Peter AbellARTICLEAnnual Review of Sociology2004Cited by: 62References: 66

    The nature of narrative explanations is explored as an alternative to the better established variable-centered explanations. Narratives are conceived as di-graphs where the nodes are states of the world and the arcs are actions (causes). Comparative narratives are understood as mappings between di-graphs. Ethnographic and historical explanations, where the number of cases is small and causality complex, may depend upon a narrative depiction

  • The Role of Rational Choice and Narrative Action Theories in Sociological Theory The Legacy of Coleman's Foundations: The legacy of Coleman's Foundations

    Peter AbellARTICLERevue Française de Sociologie2003Cited by: 6References: 3

    Peter Abell, The Role of Rational Choice and Narrative Action Theories in Sociological Theory The Legacy of Coleman's Foundations, Revue française de sociologie, Vol. 44, No. 2, La théorie du choix rationnel: Les "Foundations of Social Theory" de James S. Coleman: En débat (Apr. - Jun., 2003), pp. 255-273

  • Causality and Low-Frequency Complex Events: The Role of Comparative Narratives

    Open AccessPeter AbellARTICLESociological Methods & Research2001Cited by: 7References: 7

    This article seeks to describe complex events (often occurring at low frequency) where standard statistical modeling of causality is not likely to prove feasible. Such events are perhaps best analyzed using the method of comparative narratives, which relies on an internal model of causality

  • Generalised Reciprocity and Reputation in the Theory of Cooperation: A Framework

    Open AccessPeter Abell, Diane ReyniersARTICLEAnalyse & Kritik2000

    We study the Iterated Bilateral Reciprocity game in which the need for help arises randomly. Players are heterogeneous with respect to ‘neediness’ i.e. probability of needing help. We find bounds on the amount of heterogeneity which can be tolerated for cooperation (all players help when asked to help) to be sustainable in a collectivity. We introduce the notion of Generalised Reciprocity. Individuals make a costly first move to benefit another u…

  • On the failure of social theory

    Open AccessPeter Abell, Diane ReyniersARTICLEBritish Journal of Sociology2000Cited by: 14

  • Putting Social Theory Right

    Open AccessPeter AbellARTICLESociological Theory2000Cited by: 8References: 15

    The paper considers some of the implications of Coleman Diagrams in the context of the study of social interaction at the microlevel. Such studies cannot be adequately modeled without improved theoretical rigor. The Theory of Comparative Narratives is advanced as one possible analytical framework of the modeling of interactions

  • Response to Prychitko

    Peter AbellARTICLECritical Review1997

  • Rejoinder to Horvat

    Peter AbellARTICLECritical Review1997

  • Logic on the Track of Social Change. David Braybrooke , Bryson Brown , Peter K. Schotch , Laura Byrne

    Peter AbellARTICLEAmerican Journal of Sociology1996

  • A Model of the Informal Structure (Culture) of Organizations: Help, Trust, Rivalry and Team Spirit

    Open AccessPeter AbellARTICLERationality and Society1996Cited by: 3References: 8

    Corporate culture is conceived of as a mixture of intra-organizational mechanisms which balance cooperative (helping) and competitive (rivalrous) relationships. A simple game whereby individuals compete for a series of `prizes' induces a level of relative deprivation which impacts negatively upon a helping game. Individuals, however, need help from others to compete effectively for the prizes

  • Entrepreneurship, Management and the Structure of Payoffs

    Peter Abell, William J BaumolARTICLEEconomica1995

  • Self‐management: Is it postmodernist

    Peter AbellARTICLECritical Review1995References: 3

    Conceptions of self‐management and the labor managed firm (LMF) have not been well received by economists. They have, however, proved to be a continuing (though minority) interest in the socialist movement from Marx onwards. Prychitko claims that by examining the humanist side of Marx, a socialist case can be made both for the LMF and markets in a postmodern world. Such a case rests upon an assumption that self‐management confers competitive adva…

  • The Sicilian Mafia: The Business of Private Protection

    Peter Abell, Diego GambettaARTICLEBritish Journal of Sociology1995Cited by: 12

  • Identity and Control: A Structural Theory of Social Action. Harrison C. White

    Peter AbellARTICLEAmerican Journal of Sociology1994

  • Narrative method: A reply

    Peter AbellARTICLEJournal of Mathematical Sociology1993Cited by: 3

    The paper comments upon the various critical remarks made by other authors about the theory and method of Comparative Narratives. It raises issues of the epistemological status of narratives, their connection with game theory and rationality and to generative theories