Concepts in Action : Conceptual Constructionism

Concepts in Action focuses on what to do with theoretical concepts, rather than providing conveyed definitions. The book covers a variety of examples what to do, how to think, in order to develop and use concepts in the social sciences. Conceptual constructionism: an introduction / Peter Sohlberg and Hakon Leiulfsrud -- On the near disappearance of concepts in mainstream sociology / Richard Swedberg -- Methodological programs and applications -- What do we do with norms-conform, break, understand or explain? / Peter Sohlberg -- Colligation / Richard Swedberg -- Sensitizing concepts in action :expanding the framework / Anne Britt Flemmen -- Culture, nature and consumption -- Culture as a sociological concept / Willy Martinussen -- Bringing nature back in / Willy Guneriussen -- The study of consumption in sociology-beyond utility theory / Pal Strandbakken -- Social structure, organizations and institutions -- Social structure / John Scott -- The organization of action / Goran Ahrne -- About actors : an institutional perspective / Raimund Hasse -- The family and interwoven concepts / Hakon Leiulfsrud -- Collective action : why is it so difficult for the social sciences to grasp the rational aspects of collective action? / Roar Hagen -- Class, gender, race and social recognition -- The status of the political in the concept of class structure / Erik Olin Wright -- Gender as analytic, political and interdisciplinary concept / Harriet Bjerrum Nielsen -- Race : a contested and travelling concept / Mette Andersson -- Recognition : conceptualization and context / Antje Gimmler -- Index Rather than treating concepts and their application in a static and iconic manner,Concepts in Action provides us with examples of the active and creative use of concepts for constructing and generating new knowledge. Examples of theoretic constructions and topics discussed refers to the function of theory in main stream sociology; concepts enabling us to expand the range of interpretations; a critical view and approach to general concepts of culture, nature and consumption; concepts dealing with organization, institutions and actors; and examples of travelling concepts such as class, gender, race and social recognition. Concepts in Action follows on the earlier Theory in Action (2016) as part of a three volume project broadening our understanding of the interplay of theory and methods. The forthcoming third volume will focus on the strategy of constructing and analyzing the object in social science. This volume is highly relevant for researchers and students interested in theoretical construction in the social sciences.Contributors are: Göran Ahrne, Mette Andersson, Harriet Bjerrum Nielsen, Anne Britt Flemmen, Antje Gimmler, Willy Guneriussen, Roar Hagen,Raimund Hasse, Håkon Leiulfsrud, Willy Martinussen, John Scott, Peter Sohlberg, Pål Strandbakken, Richard Swedberg and Erik Olin Wright. Concepts in Action: Conceptual Constructionism 3 Copyright 4 Contents 5 Preface 7 List of Illustrations 8 Notes on Contributors 9 1 Conceptual Constructionism: An Introduction 13 2 On the Near Disappearance of Concepts in Mainstream Sociology 35 Part 1: Methodological Programs and Applications 53 3 What Do We Do with Norms—Conform, Break, Understand or Explain? 55 4 Colligation 75 5 Sensitizing Concepts in Action: Expanding the Framework 91 Part 2: Culture, Nature and Consumption 107 6 Culture as a Sociological Concept 109 7 Bringing Nature Back In 128 8 The Study of Consumption in Sociology—Beyond Utility Theory 148 Part 3: Social Structure, Organizations and Institutions 163 9 Social Structure 165 10 The Organization of Action 184 11 About Actors: An Institutional Perspective 201 12 The Family and Interwoven Concepts 218 13 Collective Action: Why is it so Difficult for the Social Sciences to Grasp the Rational Aspects of Collective Action? 234 Part 4: Class, Gender, Race and Social Recognition 253 14 The Status of the Political in the Concept of Class Structure 255 15 Gender as Analytic, Political and Interdisciplinary Concept 276 16 Race: A Contested and Travelling Concept 296 17 Recognition: Conceptualization and Context 314 Index 333 Rather than treating concepts and their application in a static and iconic manner, 'Concepts in Action' provides us with examples of the active and creative use of concepts for constructing and generating new knowledge. Examples of theoretic constructions and topics discussed refers to the function of theory in main stream sociology; concepts enabling us to expand the range of interpretations; a critical view and approach to general concepts of culture, nature and consumption; concepts dealing with organization, institutions and actors; and examples of travelling concepts such as class, gender, race and social recognition. 'Concepts in Action' follows on the earlier 'Theory in Action' (2016) as part of a three volume project broadening our understanding of the interplay of theory and methods. The forthcoming third volume will focus on the strategy of constructing and analyzing the object in social science. This volume is highly relevant for researchers and students interested in theoretical construction in the social sciences