Rethinking Macrosociological Theory

Bibliographic Data

ID4936065
AuthorsGerhard Lenski (corresponding author)
Year1988
Volume53
Issue2
Pages163
Publication date1988-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Sociological Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-1224 • E-ISSN: 1939-8271
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/2095685
OpenAlexW2331445835
LanguageEN
Citations received47
References cited10

Macrosociologists have too long been complacent about the state and quality of their theory. If macrosociological theory is to progress, and not merely proliferate, several major changes are needed in the way theory is usually formulated. Above all, theories must become falsifiable. This will require that key concepts be stated in an operationally unambiguous manner and that relationships among variables also be specified unambiguously. In addition, theories ought explicitly to incorporate biological and environmental constants and not leave them implicit or ignore them, as is too often the case. Finally, theories should be multilayered, with a general theory employing a covering principle to identify a key variable or variables on which a series of derivative special theories can be based. Above all, theory construction requires greater rigor and discipline than is currently the norm

Epistemology · Sociology · Complex Systems and Decision Making · Economic Theory and Institutions · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science

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