16 research outputs found
A dynamic and multifunctional account of middleârange theories
This article develops a novel account of middleârange theories for combining theoretical and empirical analysis in explanatory sociology. I first revisit Robert K. Mertonâs original ideas on middleârange theories and identify a tension between his developmental approach to middleârange theorizing that recognizes multiple functions of theories in sociological research and his static definition of the concept of middleârange theory that focuses only on empirical testing of theories. Drawing on Merton's ideas on theorizing and recent discussions on mechanismâbased explanations, I argue that this tension can be resolved by decomposing a middleârange theory into three interrelated and evolving components that perform different functions in sociological research: (i) a conceptual framework about social phenomena that is a set of interrelated concepts that evolve in close connection with empirical analysis; (ii) a mechanism schema that is an abstract and incomplete description of a social mechanism; and (iii) a cluster of all mechanismâbased explanations of social phenomena that are based on the particular mechanism schema. I show how these components develop over time and how they serve different functions in sociological theorizing and research. Finally, I illustrate these ideas by discussing Mertonâs theory of the Matthew effect in science and its more recent applications in sociology.This article develops a novel account of middleârange theories for combining theoretical and empirical analysis in explanatory sociology. I first revisit Robert K. Mertonâs original ideas on middleârange theories and identify a tension between his developmental approach to middleârange theorizing that recognizes multiple functions of theories in sociological research and his static definition of the concept of middleârange theory that focuses only on empirical testing of theories. Drawing on Merton's ideas on theorizing and recent discussions on mechanismâbased explanations, I argue that this tension can be resolved by decomposing a middleârange theory into three interrelated and evolving components that perform different functions in sociological research: (i) a conceptual framework about social phenomena that is a set of interrelated concepts that evolve in close connection with empirical analysis; (ii) a mechanism schema that is an abstract and incomplete description of a social mechanism; and (iii) a cluster of all mechanismâbased explanations of social phenomena that are based on the particular mechanism schema. I show how these components develop over time and how they serve different functions in sociological theorizing and research. Finally, I illustrate these ideas by discussing Mertonâs theory of the Matthew effect in science and its more recent applications in sociology.Peer reviewe
Ontogenesis versus Morphogenesis towards an Anti-realist Model of the Constitution of Society
This article firstly criticizes Margaret Archerâs Morphogenetic Approach for being indecisive about the realist notion of emergence it proposes as well as for her inadequate account of structural conditioning. It is argued that critical realistsâ conceptualizations of emergence cannot but lead to inconsistencies about the adequate placement of agents as parts of emergent entities. The inconsistencies to which these conceptualizations lead necessitate an anti-realist model of the constitution of societies which takes into account that social structures are existentially dependent upon ideational elaboration. This alternative anti-realist theoretical perspective is provided by Ontogenesis, within the framework of which the realistsâ idea of the ânecessary and internal relationsâ give their place to the ontological pervasiveness of the culturally shared imaginary schemata. Archerâs denial of a collective synchronic impact to social forms is implied in her analysis of morphogenetic cycles, according to which, structural elaboration post-dates social interaction; and this denial is also expressed in this very idea of emergent structures. Instead, for Ontogenesis, social forms are synchronically dependent on the collective impact of the differently socially placed agents, who have different interests and material resources, and whose interaction only becomes meaningful when drawing on these culturally shared imaginary schemata
Social mechanisms and strategic action fields: The example of the emergence of the European Research Area
Metrics, Money, and Managerialism: Faculty Experiences of Competing Logics in Higher Education
Cognitive-behavioural therapy for a variety of conditions: an overview of systematic reviews and panoramic meta-analysis
Background
Cognitiveâbehavioural therapy aims to increase quality of life by changing cognitive and behavioural factors that maintain problematic symptoms. A previous overview of cognitiveâbehavioural therapy systematic reviews suggested that cognitiveâbehavioural therapy was effective for many conditions. However, few of the included reviews synthesised randomised controlled trials.
Objectives
This project was undertaken to map the quality and gaps in the cognitiveâbehavioural therapy systematic review of randomised controlled trial evidence base. Panoramic meta-analyses were also conducted to identify any across-condition general effects of cognitiveâbehavioural therapy.
Data sources
The overview was designed with cognitiveâbehavioural therapy patients, clinicians and researchers. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and OpenGrey databases were searched from 1992 to January 2019.
Review methods
Study inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) fulfil the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination criteria; (2) intervention reported as cognitiveâbehavioural therapy or including one cognitive and one behavioural element; (3) include a synthesis of cognitiveâbehavioural therapy trials; (4) include either health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety or pain outcome; and (5) available in English. Review quality was assessed with A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR)-2. Reviews were quality assessed and data were extracted in duplicate by two independent researchers, and then mapped according to condition, population, context and quality. The effects from high-quality reviews were pooled within condition groups, using a random-effect panoramic meta-analysis. If the across-condition heterogeneity was I2â<â75%, we pooled across conditions. Subgroup analyses were conducted for age, delivery format, comparator type and length of follow-up, and a sensitivity analysis was performed for quality.
Results
A total of 494 reviews were mapped, representing 68% (27/40) of the categories of the International Classification of Diseases, Eleventh Revision, Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. Most reviews (71%, 351/494) were of lower quality. Research on older adults, using cognitiveâbehavioural therapy preventatively, ethnic minorities and people living outside Europe, North America or Australasia was limited. Out of 494 reviews, 71 were included in the primary panoramic meta-analyses. A modest effect was found in favour of cognitiveâbehavioural therapy for health-related quality of life (standardised mean difference 0.23, 95% confidence interval 0.05 to 0.41, prediction interval â0.05 to 0.50, I2â=â32%), anxiety (standardised mean difference 0.30, 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.43, prediction interval â0.28 to 0.88, I2â=â62%) and pain (standardised mean difference 0.23, 95% confidence interval 0.05 to 0.41, prediction interval â0.28 to 0.74, I2â=â64%) outcomes. All condition, subgroup and sensitivity effect estimates remained consistent with the general effect. A statistically significant interaction effect was evident between the active and non-active comparator groups for the health-related quality-of-life outcome. A general effect for depression outcomes was not produced as a result of considerable heterogeneity across reviews and conditions.
Limitations
Data extraction and analysis were conducted at the review level, rather than returning to the individual trial data. This meant that the risk of bias of the individual trials could not be accounted for, but only the quality of the systematic reviews that synthesised them.
Conclusion
Owing to the consistency and homogeneity of the highest-quality evidence, it is proposed that cognitiveâbehavioural therapy can produce a modest general, across-condition benefit in health-related quality-of-life, anxiety and pain outcomes.
Future work
Future research should focus on how the modest effect sizes seen with cognitiveâbehavioural therapy can be increased, for example identifying alternative delivery formats to increase adherence and reduce dropout, and pursuing novel methods to assess intervention fidelity and quality.
Study registration
This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42017078690.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 25, No. 9. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information