It has been argued that fundamentally different methodological approaches have made for ‘two sociologies’ This view has obscured the fact that the problem of validity has to be tackled independently of any specific methodological premises because of the textuality of sociological data This does not necessarily imply, however, a single, unified strategy for validity testing In this paper, some basic theoretical presuppositions underlying the approach to validity testing in quantitative research will be contrasted with the strategies offered by Max Weber's methodological writings on the ideal type It is argued that the use of ideal typical constructs in qualitative research (exemplified by patient's illness careers) allows systematic validity testing despite the important differences in the conceptualization of social reality which is used in quantitative research, thus serving the purpose of any empirical sociological research, that is, to gain valid insight into societies' concrete reality

The Two Sociologies

Validity — the quest for reality in quantitative and qualitative research

This thesis considers how leaders of smaller firms attach meanings to internationalization This is examined by the means of a survey questionnaire of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises [SME] operating in the clothing industry of Parana State in Brazil, and 58 qualitative interviews with the leaders of these firms The thesis argues that existing theories of internationalization overlook the question of what international involvement means to relevant actors and in so doing have produced a body of knowledge characterized by deterministic, rationalist and individualist assumptions of organizational action that seriously understate the role of choice, interpretation and the collective dynamics of meaningful action Drawing on Weber’s (1964; 1978) argument that social action is meaningful the thesis advances an integrative view of internationalization as a meaningful action characterized by the interplay of choice, rationality and interpretation The thesis presents evidence sufficient to show that meanings regarding the criteria and parameters informing rational choice in internationalization vary with decision makers’ interpretations In addition, it demonstrates that such meanings do not always accord with available theories The thesis discusses why a recognition that internationalization is meaningful, and therefore implies choice and interpretation in addition to rationality, is critical for further theorizing Finally, it considers the contributions of the findings and arguments for policymaking and managerial practice in smaller businesses

Meaningful internationalization : a study among the leaders of Brazilian smaller enterprises

European social theory has always been characterized by different dichotomous positions. Action-structure, subjectivism-objectivism, and methodological individualism-methodological holism are conflicting positions that have been competing throughout the history of European social theory. Each of these positions enables and constrains one’s framework for sociological analysis. With the rise of modern sociological theory in the late nineteenth century, a more explicit debate and contest between these different positions has taken place. The “Methodenstreit” in Germany in the late nineteenth century between historians and economists is one well-known example. Almost a century later we had “die Positivismus Streit” in Germany between critical rationalism (Karl Popper, Hans Albert) and the Frankfurt School (Theodor W. Adorno, Jurgen Habermas) in 1961. Another example is the conflict in sociology between Durkheimian methodological holism and Weberian methodological individualism. In almost any theoretical or methodological discussion, we have been faced with the problem of these “two sociologies” (Dawe, 1970). What position is to be preferred? What key concept is the most suitable to use as a point of departure? Action or structure, individual or society? What sort of ontological status do we assign our concepts?

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Survival Units as the Point of Departure for a Relational Sociology

This chapter reviews and summarises the principal debates and findings of research on British society carried out in the period of expansion from 1945 to 1979. Research activity is mapped onto the various departments in which it was carried out. Topics covered include theoretical debates on structure, function, conflict, and action, and empirical research on class and stratification, community and kinship, race and ethnicity, crime and deviance, work, industry, and organisation, and religion.

The Two Sociologies

Citations

Validity — the quest for reality in quantitative and qualitative research

Meaningful internationalization : a study among the leaders of Brazilian smaller enterprises

Survival Units as the Point of Departure for a Relational Sociology

Exploring British Society

Marx's Two Methods of Sociological Analysis

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