Metatheorizing in social sciences

Subject Areas : sociology

Abbas Lotfizadeh ¹ (عضو هیات علمی گروه علوم‌ اجتماعی، دانشگاه پیام نور مرکز اهر. (نویسنده مسوول))
Reza Ebrahimi ² (دانشجوی کارشناسی ‌ارشد جامعه‌شناسی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تبریز.)
Islam Ebrahimi ³ (ارشناس‌ارشد مطالعات فرهنگی.)

Received: 2016-03-12 Accepted : 2016-03-12 Published : 2010-07-23

Keywords: meta-analysis, Metatheory, Meta-Theorizing, Meta-Sociology, Reflexivity, Social Theory,

Abstract :

The concept of metatheory in the social sciences literature has emerged under various labels such as meta-sociology, reflexive sociology, and sociology of sociology. The purpose of this paper is to introduce and analyze sociological metatheory. This paper is based on the study of the major works of metatheory proponents and critical discussions of its opponents. The paper reviews meta-theory definitions and provides a clear definition of it. Also, the relationship of metatheory with the concept of reflexivity is considered and the benefits of metatheory and criticisms against it are raised. Many sociologists and theorists have stressed the need for the development of social theory. Since metatheory is an effective step in enriching theories, more attention should be devoted to this area.

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