On sociology : numbers, narratives, and the integration of research and theory

"On Sociology" brings together a collection of essays by the British sociologist, John H. Goldthorpe. The essays are concerned with the intellectual discovery of contemporary sociology. The collection begins with essays critical of various current tendencies in sociology and moved on to essays that outline a programme for a new sociological mainstream. The essays combine the established strengths of quantitative sociology with recent developments in the theory of social action, especially rational action theory. It then turns to essays illustrative of this style of sociology. The book deals with substantive topics in the field of social stratification. The final essay takes up some of the relevant issues in the history of sociology. This book is intended for scholars and students of sociology, social science methodology, business, economics, and social researchers.

Introduction & Chapter 1. Chapter 2. The Uses of History in Sociology. Chapter 3. Current Issues in Contemporary Macrosociology. Chapter 4. Social Ethnography. Chapter 5. Quantitative Analysis of Large-Scale Date-Sets and Rational Action Theory. Chapter 6. Rational Action Theory for Sociology. Chapter 7. Causation, Statistics, and Sociology. Chapter 8. Class Analysis and the Reorientation of Class Theory. Chapter 9. Explaining Educational Differentials. Chapter 10. Social Class and the Differentials of Employment Contracts. Chapter 11. Outline of a Theory for Sociology. Chapter 12. Sociology and the Probabilistic Revolution, 1830-1930.

On Sociology brings together a collection of essays all written in the last ten years by one of the best-known and influential British sociologist, John H. Goldthorpe. The essays are concerned with the intellectual discovery of contemporary sociology. The collection begins with essays critical of various current tendencies in sociology and moves on to essays that outline a programme for a new sociological mainstream. This would combine the established strengths of quantitative sociology with recent developments in the theory of social action, especially rational action theory. Essays illustrative of this style of sociology then follow dealing with substantive topics in the field of social stratification. The final essay takes up some of the relevant issues in the history of sociology.

• Introduction & Chapter 1
• Chapter 2. The Uses of History in Sociology
• Chapter 3. Current Issues in Comparative Macrosociology
• Chapter 4. Socialogical Ethnography Today
• Chapter 5. The Quantitative Analysis of Large-Scale Data-Sets and Rational Action Theory
• Chapter 6. Rational Action Theory for Sociology
• Chapter 7. Causation, Statistics, and Sociology
• Chapter 8. Class Analysis and the Reorientation of Class Theory
• Chapter 9. Explaining Educational Differentials
• Chapter 10. Social Class and the Differentiation of Employment Contracts
• Chapter 11. Outline of a Theory of Social Mobility
• Chapter 12. Sociology and the Probabilistic Revolution, 1830-1930