printNetwork аpproach as a phenomenon in sociological theory
Maltseva D.V.
Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Deputy Head of the International Laboratory for Applied Network Research, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia dmaltseva@hse.ru
Maltseva D.V. Network аpproach as a phenomenon in sociological theory . Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2018. No 4. P. 3-14
The article presents a comparative analysis of three directions of “Network Аpproach in Sociology” – Social Networks Analysis, Relational Sociology and Actor-Network Theory. Analytical grounds of the analysis are time and context of appearance, main theoretical positions, methodology of empirical research. Аnalysis of differences and similarities between three directions shows the connection between Relational Sociology and ANT, to some extent, and their difference to SNA. Similarities are manifested in the definition of the object of research, the nature of actors they consider (while different roles are assigned to non-human actors), abandoning the initially formed social space, understanding the world as the unfolding relationships produced through translation (or switching), using interpretative methods of analysis. Important differences remain in the interpretation of activity, concept of network and relation to the context. Both SNA and Relational Sociology may be seen as different theoretical approaches, while ANT may be considered as a general sociological theory. Thus, it is not correct to use the concept of “network approach” in the sense of “theoretical approach” or fuse these directions under unifying names “network theory” or “network paradigm”. It should be emphasized that this is a collective name for different theoretical approaches using the concept of network in their explanatory models. Eventual attempt to construe an integrative version of these directions should take into account differences in their theoretical basements.
Boorman S.A., White H.C. (1976) Social Structure From Multiple Networks: Social Structure from Multiple Networks. II. Role Structures. American Journal of Sociology. Vol. 81. No. 6: 1384–1446.
Cambrosio A., Keating P., Mogoutov A. (2004) Mapping Collaborative Work and Innovation in Biomedicine: A Computer-Assisted Analysis of Antibody Reagent Workshops. Social Studies of Science. Vol. 34. No. 3: 325–364.
Collins R. (2009) Four Sociological Traditions. Moscow: Territoriya budushego. (In Russ.)
Dе pelteaux F., Powell C. (2013) Applying Relational Sociology: Relations, Networks, and Society. New York: Palgrave.
Devyatko I.F. (2003) Sociological theories of activity and practical rationality. Moscow: Avanti plyus. (In Russ.)
Emirbayer M. (1997) Manifesto for a Relational Sociology. American Journal of Sociology. Vol. 103. No. 2: 281–317.
Erikson E. (2013) Formalist and Relationalist Theory in Social Network Analysis. Sociological Theory. Vol. 31. Iss. 3: 219–242.
Gradoselskaya G. (2004) Network Measurements in Sociology. Batygin G. (ed.) Moscow: Noviy Uchebnik. (In Russ.)
Granovetter M. (1973) The strength of weak ties. American Journal of Sociology. Vol. 78. Iss.6: 1360–1380.
Kravchenko S. (2007) Sociology: Paradigms Through the Prism of Sociological Imagination. Moscow: Ekzamen. (In Russ.)
Latour B. (1988) The Pasteurization of France. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Latour B. (2014) Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory. Moscow: NRU HSE. (In Russ.)
Leydesdorff L., Ahrweiler P. (2014) In Search of a Network Theory of Innovations: Relations, Positions, and Perspectives. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology. Vol. 65. Iss. 11: 2359–2374.
Maltseva D. (2014) Relational Sociology: A New Stage in the Development of Social Network Analysis or an Independent Direction? Monitoring obshestvennogo mneniya: economicheskie I sotsialnie peremeni [Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes]. No. 4(122): 3–14. (In Russ.)
Maltseva D. (2017) Network Approach in Sociology: Genesis of Ideas and Application. Novosibirsk: NSTU. (In Russ.)
Mische A. (2011) Relational Sociology, Culture and Agency. In: Scott J.G., Carrington P.J. (eds) The SAGE Handbook of Social Network Analysis. SAGE Publications: 80–98.
Mische A., Pattison P. (2007) Partisan Publics: Communication and Contention across Brazilian Youth Activist Networks / Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Mutzel S. (2009) Networks as Culturally Constituted Processes: A Comparison of Relational Sociology and Actor-network Theory. Current Sociology. Vol. 57: 871–887.
Ritzer G. (2002) Modern Sociological Theory. St. Petersburg: Piter. (In Russ.)
Romm M.V., Louchikhina L.F. (2011) Foreign traditions of the research of social networks. Idei I Ideali [Ideas and Ideals]. No. 2(8). Vol. 1: 77–90. (In Russ.)
Seeley L.J. (2014) Harrison White as (Not Quite) Poststructuralist. Sociological Theory. Vol. 32(1): 27–42.
Vakhshtayn V. (ed). (2006) Sociology of things. Moscow: Territoriya buduсhego, (In Russ.)
Vakhshtayn V. (2005) The Return of Material: “Spaces”, “Networks”, “Flows” in Actor-Network Theory. Sotsiologicheskoe obozrenie [The Russian Sociological Review]. Vol. 4. No 1: 94–115 (In Russ.)
White H. (2008) Identity and Control: How Social Formations Emerge. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.