Sociological Reasoning

'Sociological Reasoning is the most intelligent book on methodological issues to cross my desk in quite some time. It speaks with originality wisdom to the issues that matter to the current generation of social scientists. I am especially impressed with the way Stones reorganises our thinking about sociological knowledge. His examples draw upon a rich abundance of sources ranging from ethnographies to novels to classical theorietical texts.' - Ira J. Cohen 'An ambitious and important book.' - William Outhwaite, American Journal of Sociology

While sociological modernists were outrageously presumptious in their claims for sociological knowledge, postmodernists have gone to another extreme in claiming that it has no more truth status than fiction.While sociological modernists were outrageously presumptious in their claims for sociological knowledge, postmodernists have gone to another extreme in claiming that it has no more truth status than fiction. Critical of both positions, Sociological Reasoning develops an original typology of approaches to social scientific theory and research which is distinguished by its openness and reflexive awareness of rhetorical and methodological aspects of knowledge claims. Laced with graphic illustrative examples, this is a strikingly well-written text that will appeal to students at undergraduate level and beyond.