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1. Social Capital in Britain: An Update and Critique of Peter Hall's Analysis.

Author

Grenier, Paola and Wright, Karen

Subjects
*SOCIOLOGISTS, *SOCIAL capital, *SOCIOLOGY, *SOCIAL networks
Abstract

The article examines subsequent data sets to update sociologist Peter Hall's evaluation of the levels of social capital in Great Britain and offer additional analysis. The decline between 1990 and 1995 paralleled U.S. figures and that the levels of social trust appeared to plateau between 1995 and 1999, according to EVS data.

Published
2005

2. Positivism in sociological research: USA and UK (1966--1990).

Author

Gartrell, C. David and Gartrell, John W.

Subjects
POSITIVISM, SOCIOLOGY, THEORY, RESEARCH
Abstract

Positivism has been declared dead in sociological theory circles, yet questions remain as to its viabilily among researchers. The authors present diagnostic evidence ahout positivism in sociological practice through a content analysis of journal articles published in the late 1960s and the late 1980s in the sociological journals of the USA and Britain. Using an index based on seven elements of positivism that were characteristic of the 'theory construction' movement of the late 1960s, the authors find evidence of the effects of time and nation on the use of positivism. Disaggregation of the index reveals that most of the observed change is associated with the elements of 'instrumental' positivism, parlicularly statistics. The results raise questions about the relationship between theory and research and about sociologists' philosophies of science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2002
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