In this invitation to "concept-driven" sociology, defying the conventional split between "theory" and "methodology" (as well as between "quantitative" and "qualitative" research), Eviatar Zerubavel introduces a yet unarticulated "Simmelian" method of theorizing specifically designed to reveal fundamental, often hidden social patterns. Insisting that it can actually be taught, he examines the theoretico-methodological process (revolving around the epistemic and analytical acts of focusing, generalizing, "exampling," and analogizing) by which concept-driven researchers can distill generic social patterns from the culturally, historically, and domain-specific contexts in which they encounter them empirically. Disregarding conventionally noted substantive variability in order to uncover conventionally disregarded formal commonalities, Generally Speaking draws on cross-cultural, cross-historical, cross-domain, and cross-level analogies in an effort to reveal formal parallels across
disparate contexts. Using numerous examples from culturally and historically diverse contexts and a wide range of social domains while also disregarding scale, Zerubavel thus introduces a pronouncedly transcontextual "generic" sociology.
Industry Reviews
"Recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty."--M. Lawler, CHOICE
"A much welcomed methodological capstone to Eviatar Zerubavel's nearly fifty years of concept-driven research creatively illuminating many of the filaments of social cognition and interaction that would have remained less discernible via more traditional methodologies."--David A. Snow, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of California, Irvine
"Drawing from his brilliant half-century opus and a virtuoso talent for recognizing profound patterns in social life, Eviatar Zerubavel gifts us with a novel guide on how to conduct concept-driven research. With great style and captivating examples, Generally Speaking will inspire social scientists but also fascinate general readers."--Viviana A. Zelizer, Lloyd Cotsen '50 Professor of Sociology, Princeton University, and author of Economic
Lives: How Culture Shapes the Economy
"Equal parts manifesto and retrospective, Generally Speaking provides a peek into the thought process of one of sociology's most original practitioners. Throughout the book, Zerubavel pushes sociology to think both more boldly and more playfully. Sociology would be a better place if we heeded this call."--Iddo Tavory, Associate Professor of Sociology, New York University