Middle range theory (sociology)

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Middle range theory, developed by Robert K. Merton, is an approach to sociology aimed at bridging the gap between the theory and empirical evidence. Merton criticized both radical or narrow empiricism which stresses solely on the collection of data without any attention to a theory, and the abstract theorizing of scholars who are engaged in the attempt to construct a total theoretical system covering all aspects of social life - in other words the 'grand theory', covering the nature of mankind, society – sometimes even nature. With the introduction of the middle range theory he meant that we shouldn't try to explain the whole world, but should concentrate on measurable pieces of what the obvious tells us is reality.[1] He conceded that when they matured, as natural sciences already had, the body of middle range theories would converge into a system of universal laws on the model of experimental natural sciences, but he concluded that until that time, social sciences should give priority to middle range theories, deliberately avoiding universal theory.[2]

For Merton, middle-range theory meant a set of techniques to analyze reality and allowing to produce theoretical accounts that engaged with that reality in order to communicate with others, whether policy-makers or scholars from other disciplines; and providing ideas for future work.

According to Merton, middle range theory starts its theorizing with delimited aspects of social phenomena instead of broad, abstract entities such as society or social system. In that aspect, middle range theories may seem like general, total theories, as they both involve abstractions. However, the abstractions in theories of the middle range are firmly backed up by observed data. Middle range theories have to be constructed with reference to phenomena that are observable in order to generate an array of theoretical problems as well as to be incorporated in propositions that permit empirical testing. The examples of middle range theories are a theories of reference groups, of social mobility, of role conflict and of the formation of social norms, [3], Weber's thesis or Durkheim's theory of suicide.

Middle range theory has also been applied to the archaeological realm by Lewis R. Binford.

[edit] Quotes

• ...what might be called theories of the middle range: theories intermediate to the minor working hypotheses evolved in abundance during the day-by-day routine of research, and the all-inclusive speculations comprising a master conceptual scheme. Robert K. Merton, Social Theory and Social Structure [4]

• Our major task today is to develop special theories applicable to limited conceptual ranges -- theories, for example, of deviant behavior, the unanticipated consequences of purposive action, social perception, reference groups, social control, the interdependence of social institutions -- rather than to seek the total conceptual structure that is adequate to derive these and other theories of the middle range. Robert K. Merton[5]

• Sociological theory, if it is to advance significantly, must proceed on these interconnected planes: 1. by developing special theories from which to derive hypotheses that can be empirically investigated and 2. by evolving a progressively more general conceptual scheme that is adequate to consolidate groups of special theories.[6]

• theories that lies between the minor but necessary working hypotheses that evolve in abundance during day-to-day research and the all-inclusive systematic effects to develop a unified theory that will explain all the observed uniformities of social behaviour, social organization and social change.