English | ISBN: 1119940389 | 448 pages | 2014 | PDF | 21.40 MB

Demonstrates the power of the theoretical framework ofanalytical sociology in
explaining a large array of social phenomena

Analytical Sociology: Actions and Networks presents themost advanced theoretical discussion of analytical sociology, alongwith a unique set of examples on mechanism-
based sociology. Leading scholars apply the theoretical principlesof analytical sociology
to understand how puzzling social and historical phenomenaincluding crime, lynching,
witch-hunts, tax behaviours, Web-based social movement andcommunication,
restaurant reputation, job search and careers, social networkhomophily and instability, cooperation and trust are brought aboutby complex, multi-layered social mechanisms. The analysespresented in this book rely on a wide range of methods whichinclude qualitative observations, advanced statistical techniques,complex network tools, refined simulation methods and creativeexperimental protocols.
This book ultimately demonstrates that sociology, like any otherscience, is at its best
when it dissects the mechanisms at work by means of rigorous modelbuilding andtesting.

Analytical Sociology:

• Provides the most complete and up-to-date theoreticaltreatment of analytical sociology.
• Looks at a wide range of complex social phenomenawithin a single and unitary theoretical framework.
• Explores a variety of advanced methods to build andtest theoretical models.
• Examines how both computational modelling andexperiments can be used
to study the complex relation between norms, networks and socialactions.
• Brings together research from leading global expertsin the field in order to
present a unique set of examples on mechanism-basedsociology.

Advanced graduate students and researchers working in sociology,methodology of social sciences, statistics, social networksanalysis and computer simulation will benefit from this book.