Sociological Theory Research Articles

Enhancing Signed Graph Attention Network by Graph Characteristics: An Analysis

A graph neural network (GNN) is one of successful methods for handling tasks on a graph data structure, e.g. node embedding, link prediction and node classification. GNNs focus on a graph data structure that must aggregate messages on nodes in the graph to retain a graph-structured information in new node’s message and proceed tasks on a graph. One of modifications on the propagation step in GNNs by adopting attention mechanism is a graph attention network (GAT). Applying this modification to signed graphs generated by sociological theories is called signed graph attention network (SiGAT). In this research, we utilize SiGAT and create novel graphs using graph characters to assess the performance of SiGAT models embedded in nodes across various characteristic graphs. The primary focus of our study was linked prediction, which aligns with the task employed in the previous research on SiGAT. We propose a method using graph characteristics to improve the time spent on the learning process in SiGAT.

The Conception of the Urban, 1800-1875

Many writers in northwestern Europe circa 1800 to 1875 attempted to grasp the dual dynamic of industrialization and urbanization. They contributed to a genre that we would now recognize as urban sociology. They attempted to grasp new social phenomena and to develop categories adequate for them. The writers who contributed to this body of literature mediated their experience through psychological, social, and cultural understandings, but they nonetheless partially grasped their world. In so doing, they developed historically specific categories. Their writing simultaneously recognized and misrecognized their world; it both affirmed the new dynamics of capitalism and urbanization and criticized them, pointing to a different and better world beyond them. This analysis will draw out of this body of literature avant lettre foundational ideas of sociology and social theory including ones more fully developed later by Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Ferdinand Tӧnnies, and Georg Simmel.

Foodscape of Pakistan: A Qualitative Investigation of Intentions, Themes and Social Realities in Food Vlogging

This qualitative research paper delves into the captivating world of Pakistani food vloggers, investigating the profound how’s and whys behind their use of social media platforms to generate and share delectable food-related content. With a focus on comprehending the underlying intentions that drive these vloggers in creating their culinary masterpieces, the study conducted in-depth interviews with four renowned food vloggers: Adeel Chaudhry, Foodies by Ashir, Saqib Mobeen, and Hamza Haram. Employing thematic analysis as the core methodology, the research unveils the captivating reality crafted by food vloggers through their interactions with the audience. It draws inspiration from the symbolic interactionist perspective and the sociological theories of George Herbert Mead and Herbert Blumer. Within the intricate tapestry of these culinary journeys, three prominent themes emerge foodscapes, media influence, and psychological tools. This pioneering research not only offers profound insights into the domain of food vlogging and marketing but also presents a novel perspective on how individuals in the digital age construct their social realities through dynamic interactions with their followers. As this study uncovers the artistry behind the culinary creations and the strategic utilization of social media, it paves the way for further research and exploration in this enthralling realm of food vlogging.

Where George Spencer-Brown went wrong – re-entry recalculated

PurposeThe paper uncovers a mathematical error in George Spencer-Brown's genesis of re-entry. It distinguishes between the two interpretations of re-entry presented in “Laws of Form”: recursive versus sequential. The Indeterminacy inferred by George Spencer-Brown from his recursive genesis of re-entry is refuted in three different ways. The calculation of the Modulator from “Laws of Form” demonstrates that only the sequential interpretation of re-entry is reasonable. This contributes to the demystification of re-entry and enables a deeper understanding. Finally, six differences between the concept of form from “Laws of Form” and Niklas Luhmann's sociological systems theory are presented.Design/methodology/approachMethodologically, the paper uses the ternary logic of discrete mathematics, which extends {0, 1} by “don't care” to {0, 1, -}. George Spencer-Brown's Indeterminicy is refuted by using three different methods: complete induction, Theorems 14 and 15 and the software XBOOLE. For the calculation of the Modulator, the only practical application of re-entry in “Laws of Form”, techniques from automata theory are used.FindingsThe paper reveals a mathematical error in George Spencer-Brown's genesis of the re-entry of “Laws of Form” and refutes the assumption of Indeterminicy. The analysis of the only practical application of re-entry presented by George Spencer-Brown shows that the functioning of this Modulator can only be described correctly with the sequential interpretation of re-entry.Originality/valueThe paper emphasizes the interdisciplinary potential of sociology and information technology and provides methods and tools of discrete mathematics for use in the analysis of the works of George Spencer-Brown and Niklas Luhmann.

Šhubrt I., Pоdvoyski D. G. Соntemporary sociological theories: how not to go astray in conceptual labyrinths. Мoscow: VTSIOM, 2024. Reviewed by N. V. Romanovskiy

Šhubrt I., Pоdvoyski D. G. Соntemporary sociological theories: how not to go astray in conceptual labyrinths. Мoscow: VTSIOM, 2024. Reviewed by N. V. Romanovskiy

ОСНОВИ НА СЪВРЕМЕННАТА ИКОНОМИКА: НОВАТА ИНСТИТУЦИОНАЛНА ИКОНОМИКА СРЕЩУ НОВАТА ИКОНОМИЧЕСКА СОЦИОЛОГИЯ – ТЕОРЕТИЧНИЯТ СБЛЪСЪК МЕЖДУ МАРК ГРАНОВЕТЪР И ОЛИВЪР УИЛЯМСЪН

Nearly 50 years ago, Mark Granovetter initiated a fundamental critique of economic theory. His critique was the starting point for the New Economic Sociology (NES). Particularly, he criticized the emerging theories of New Institutional Economics (NIE), focusing on the ideas of Oliver Williamson (1932–2020) who was one of the most prominent representatives of this school. In this paper we address this critique and Williamson’s response to it. Williamson argued from the perspective of transaction cost economics, while Granovetter focused on the social embeddedness of individuals. The impact of this debate on economics has resulted in an increased research interest in the role of institutions and social networks. However, both lines of thought did not bring economic and sociological theories together. NES established as a subdiscipline in Sociology. Its central concept of embeddedness continued to attract interest but proved to be of little empirical applicability. NIE, on the other hand, has become part of mainstream economics.

Enabling and exploiting student expertise: the case of a Norwegian centre for excellence in education

ABSTRACT Student involvement has been advocated for and studied by educational scholars in recent years. Simultaneously, measures to increase student involvement have surfaced, such as the Norwegian Centres for Excellence in Education (CEE) initiative. This study explores how students, staff and leaders have experienced student involvement through a CEE in the Norwegian context by turning to sociological institutional theory, in which governance structures and change processes are interlinked. The Centre for Excellence in Music Performance Education (CEMPE) was run from 2014 to 2023, situated at a music academy characterised by privatised teaching culture and a master/apprentice teaching model. In this instrumental case study, primary data were collected from 18 semi-structured interviews with students and staff who had occupied management roles at CEMPE/the Academy. Interview transcripts were triangulated with secondary data in the form of strategic documents such as annual reports, action plans, minutes from steering group meetings, applications and publication lists. The data were coded with thematic narrative analysis, and four distinct narratives on student involvement were identified: (1) students as participants; (2) students as creators; (3) students as facilitators; and (4) students as consultants. The findings indicate that the involved students were both empowered and burdened through their work in the centre. The paid student positions, in particular, enabled students to develop qualifications that staff members and the Academy benefitted from and where students took the roles as facilitators and consultants. However, student expertise can be exploited if not properly supported and fostered, which makes co-creation practices crucial in higher education.

To err is human but to persist is diabolical: Toward a theory of interactional policing.

Social interaction is organized around norms and preferences that guide our construction of actions and our interpretation of those of others, creating a reflexive moral order. Sociological theory suggests two possibilities for the type of moral order that underlies the policing of interactional norm and preference violations: a morality that focuses on the nature of violations themselves and a morality that focuses on the positioning of actors as they maintain their conduct's comprehensibility, even when they depart from norms and preferences. We find that actors are more likely to reproach interactional violations for which an account is not provided by the transgressor, and that actors weakly reproach or let pass first offenses while more strongly policing violators who persist in bad behavior. Based on these findings, we outline a theory of interactional policing that rests not on the nature of the violation but rather on actors' moral positioning.

Utilization of theories in talent development: mapping the field of HRD

Purpose The process of talent development (TD) is one of the current trends in HRM and human resource development (HRD). Although scientific literature addressing the topic emphasizes that through development of talents, organizations can increase their productivity, performance and competitiveness, little is known so far concerning the development of this research field as a whole and particularly concerning theories prevailing in the area. While research into the field has been ongoing for two decades, the area has not yet been systematized based on key theories used as starting points for the research. The purpose of this paper is to focus on which theories in HRD are used in TD. Design/methodology/approach Concerning the topicality of TD, the present article provides a systematic review of literature summarizing current theories in TD based on the currently used typology of theories in HRD, adding the fourth pillar to the existing three, i.e. theories concerning adult learning and education, to increase the stability of the typology. Findings The paper argues that the area of TD prevalently uses sociological, psychological and ethical theories, which may be attributed to trends in HRD. The insufficient representation of theories of learning in TD, particularly in view of the fact that adult learning and development is the essence of TD, is an important finding. This finding is particularly important for science concerning adult learning and education. Originality/value The benefit of the presented analysis lies in a systematization of the individual theories and a comprehensive overview of the current theoretical framework of TD, as well as suggestions for future research making use of adult learning and education theories.

Affecting the future: A multi-method qualitative text and discourse analysis of emotions in Australian news reporting on climate change and climate anxiety

Eco-anxiety and associated emotions are on the rise. International estimates range from 25–68% prevalence. Australians now regard climate change as their top concern for the future, with some young people reconsidering their intentions to become parents. The emotional sequela from climate change is becoming clearer. How it is conceptualised, responded to, and reinforced within public discourse requires further consideration. This paper presents a multi-method qualitative text and discourse analysis of Australian online news articles published in 2022 reporting on emotions and our ecological future. Drawing on sociological theories of emotions and Foucauldian conceptualisations of discourse, we present insights into the potency of emotions and discourses within online news media. We identify four differing conceptualisations of emotions, interpret what these discourses can do, and conclude with ways in which the public can reclaim agency in resisting discourses that engender passivity in the context of future ecological threats.

Prepping as implicit activism: risk, danger, and post-capitalist imaginaries in prepper literature

ABSTRACT This paper explores the increasingly widespread practice of prepping, and examines how it differs from conventional forms of activism, which generally involve explicit and purposeful efforts to instigate collective social change. Drawing on Luhmann’s sociological theory of risk and the narrative concept of foreshadowing, the paper explores how preppers understand the future and their own responsibility in shaping it, as well as the ways in which their visions of the future show up in the present. The paper argues that while the practice of prepping may appear apolitical and perhaps even asocial at a first glance, its political potential lies in the implicit and largely unintended performative consequences that arise from popularizing and proliferating the idea of a potential alternative to capitalism. Consequently, the paper demonstrates how ‘taking the future seriously’, much like conventional activist movements, albeit within the context of viewing the future as dangerous as opposed to risky, can have performative effects that may ultimately function as a form of ‘implicit activism’. This implicit activism could potentially prove as, if not more, effective in terms of challenging the hegemony of neoliberal capitalism. Considering this, we argue that social movement scholars and activists could benefit from a more profound engagement with the practice of prepping. Empirically, the paper draws on a selection of popular self-help books on prepping.

Opportunity Hoarding and Elite Reproduction: School Segregation in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Abstract School integration is an important indicator of equality of opportunity and racial reconciliation in contemporary South Africa. Despite its prominence in public and political discourse, however, there is no systemic evidence on the levels and patterns of school segregation. Drawing on the literature on the post-apartheid political settlement and sociological theories of opportunity hoarding, we explain how the small White minority and, to a lesser extent, the new Black middle class monopolized access to South Africa’s most prestigious schools following the abolition of de jure segregation in 1994. Using the 2021 Annual School Survey—an administrative dataset covering all South African schools—and the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study school survey, we find very high levels of school segregation along racial as well as socioeconomic lines. White students almost exclusively attend former White schools, have little exposure to the low-income Black majority, and are vastly overrepresented in elite public and private schools. We argue that in South Africa and other contexts with under-resourced education systems, elite capture of the few high-performing schools serves to reproduce race and class privilege.

Whakaari/White Island disaster. An analysis informed by sociological theories of risk

On December 9, 2019, the volcano on Whakaari/White Island, a popular New Zealand (NZ) tourist destination, erupted. Twenty-two people died. Drawing on sociological theories of risk, most particularly on systems-thinking, this qualitative analysis describes the origins of the disaster, formulates questions for the authorities and suggests actions to reduce the chances of a repeat. It is concluded that the safety culture of NZ’s adventure tourism (AT) industry requires attention. It is also concluded that bureaucratic devices such as the adventure tourism insurance cover provided by NZ’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) may have encouraged, through a risk-compensation dynamic, greater risk-taking. It is suggested that improved oversight will deliver a safer adventure tourism industry. It is recommended that the authorities investigate to what extent insurance cover influences business practices.

The latent cognitive structures of social networks

Abstract When people are asked to recall their social networks, theoretical and empirical work tells us that they rely on shortcuts, or heuristics. Cognitive social structures (CSSs) are multilayer social networks where each layer corresponds to an individual’s perception of the network. With multiple perceptions of the same network, CSSs contain rich information about how these heuristics manifest, motivating the question, Can we identify people who share the same heuristics? In this work, we propose a method for identifying cognitive structure across multiple network perceptions, analogous to how community detection aims to identify social structure in a network. To simultaneously model the joint latent social and cognitive structure, we study CSSs as three-dimensional tensors, employing low-rank nonnegative Tucker decompositions (NNTuck) to approximate the CSS—a procedure closely related to estimating a multilayer stochastic block model (SBM) from such data. We propose the resulting latent cognitive space as an operationalization of the sociological theory of social cognition by identifying individuals who share relational schema. In addition to modeling cognitively independent, dependent, and redundant networks, we propose a specific model instance and related statistical test for testing when there is social-cognitive agreement in a network: when the social and cognitive structures are equivalent. We use our approach to analyze four different CSSs and give insights into the latent cognitive structures of those networks.

A Study of Adolescents' Behavioral Responses to Public Events and Guidance Trends in Social Media Platforms

With the popularization and development of social media, adolescence has become an important platform for adolescents to express their views, exchange information and participate in society. The purpose of this paper is to explore in depth adolescents' behavioral responses to public events on social media and their guiding trends and to analyze adolescents' motivations for using social media, the manifestation of public events on social media, the application of social movement theories in social media research, and the modern transformation of public sphere theories. Using a mixed-methods design that combines quantitative and qualitative data analysis, this study provides a comprehensive picture of adolescents' behavioral patterns, motivations for participation, and social impact on social media, as well as their roles and challenges in public discourse. The study revealed that adolescents respond to a variety of types of public events, including posting, commenting, sharing, and engaging in hashtags. Adolescents' interactive behaviors on social media information diffusion, opinion formation, and social mobilization are important social impacts of adolescents' social media behaviors. They accelerate the spread of information through sharing and retweeting, participate in the discussion of public issues and have a direct impact on the formation of public opinion. In addition, social media has become an effective tool for mobilizing social action, and adolescents promote practical action and participation in public issues by interacting with and organizing online activities. This study proposes a series of coping strategies, including improving users' media literacy and information discernment, social media platforms to strengthen the regulation and auditing of information dissemination, and the government and the community to strengthen the regulation and governance of the social media field. This study provides new perspectives for understanding adolescents' social participation in the digital age, showing how social media, as a new public sphere, affects public discourse, social mobilization, and the formation of civic identity. The findings not only provide rich empirical material for sociological theories but also provide valuable insights for promoting social public participation, improving information quality, and advancing social progress. Future research can further explore the impact of social media on adolescents' social participation in different cultural and social contexts, as well as how to optimize the efficacy of social media as a platform for public discourse and social mobilization through educational and policy interventions.

The reality of environment reimagined: Niklas Luhmann and the new ecological paradigm

AbstractThis article delves into the underpinnings of environmental sociology, with a specific focus on the influential contributions of Dunlap and Catton. While acknowledging the increasing societal detachment from the environment, the article questions the projection of this phenomenon onto the structure of social thought. The author contends against dismissing theoretical exemptionalism, advocating for its potential to provide a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between society and nature. Illustrating this perspective through the lens of Niklas Luhmann's sociological theory, the article demonstrates how theoretical exemptionalism can furnish valuable tools for grappling with environmental issues. Furthermore, it challenges Dunlap and Catton's critique of constructivism, proposing that a moderate form of the latter can shed light on interactions between society and nature. Throughout the discussion, a crucial emphasis is placed on the fundamental distinction between society and its environment, laying the groundwork for a deeper exploration of Luhmann's ontology.

Concepts of culture of digital society in contemporary sociology

This article makes an attempt to streamline existing sociological approaches to studying culture of digital society. First of all, the phenomenon of digital society is characterised and defined. Its specificity is revealed. Then the transition is made directly to the phenomenon of culture of digital society. The main objective of this article is to show connection between the concept of culture of digital society and sociological theories of culture. To achieve it, the article provides a review of sociological theories of culture. In particular, the theories of P.A. Sorokin, T. Parsons and M.S. Archer are considered. The article demonstrates the specifics of the culture of digital society. The historical stages of development of this phenomenon are highlighted. A trend towards digitalisation of public life is identified. Next, the concept of culture of digital society is discussed directly. The final part of the article emphasises the connections between the culture of digital society and general sociological theories of culture. Finally, new research questions regarding further study and conceptualisation of the culture of digital society are posed. In conclusion, the author accentuates the necessity to conduct empirical research on specific and general cases related to the studied concept.

Research on the Asymmetric Development of the Contribution of Mobile Games and Client Games to China's Video Game Industry

This paper will focus on two important areas in the electronic game industry, namely, "mobile games", which are mainly operated and played on portable mobile devices and "client games", which are mainly operated on non-portable mobile devices such as computers, game consoles and televisions. The market in the Chinese mainland is selected as the research object. First, it explains the background of the development of these two different types of games in the Chinese mainland market and the trend in recent years. Clarify the basic content and specific differences between mobile games and client games in terms of definitions. Second, it discusses in detail the reasons for the asymmetric development of mobile and client games in the Chinese market. It uses the representative work of China's mobile games "Genshin Impact" and the part of 3A games in client games for case study, and makes a comparative analysis using classic sociological theories such as "localization", "globalization", and "McDonaldization". The paper discusses the internal reasons for the uneven development of these two different game media in the Chinese mainland market and the possible consequences of the assembly line of the game industry. Finally, the paper gives solutions to the market layout of mobile and client games in the Chinese mainland from the perspective of complete system and legal construction of the government, the improvement of the marketing mode of game developers and the enhancement of users' ability to explore the game market independently.

A call for theory-inspired analysis in qualitative research: Ways to construct different truths in and about healthcare.

Over the last 50 years, there has been significant development of qualitative research and related methods in healthcare. Theoretical frameworks support researchers in selecting appropriate research approaches, proceduresand analytical tools. However, the implications of the choice of theory are sparsely elucidated. Based on a text excerpt from a public debate article, the study aimed to show how different theory-inspired analytical perspectives produced varied understandings of the same text. The study presented three subanalyses inspired by Bourdieu's sociological theory, Lazarus and Folkman's psychological theoryand utilitarian ethics, respectively. The analyses showed that by using different theoretical analytical perspectives in inductive processes, an immediate interpretation of the text was not obvious. It became possible to spot the underlying meta-theoretical assumptions, as the interpretations were not taken for granted or indisputable. Our analyses suggest that different theoretical lenses lead to different interpretations of the same empirical material, recognising the existence of multiple truths or realities. Thus, utilising a theoretical perspective in inductive analyses can enhance transparency and rigour because the analytical optics are made explicit to the reader. This allows the reader to follow the analysis processes and comprehend from which theoretical starting point a truth arises.

Генезис советской интеллигенции и изменение ее отношения к власти в годы реформ Н.С. Хрущева

This article is devoted to understanding the genesis of the Soviet intelligentsia and identifying meaningful changes in its attitude to power in 1953–1964. The research methodology is based on complementing the historical-party approach with sociological theories of functionalism and structuralism, as well as the theory of elites and the new class. The hypothesis of the study is the complex nature of the Soviet intelligentsia, which included the remnants of the pre-revolutionary educated layer, as well as representatives of the “new” Soviet intelligentsia who emerged during the years of Soviet power, possessing high cognitive qualities, partisanship and the ability for social conformism and mimicry. The modernization of the socio-political course under N.S. Khrushchev and his opening of the floodgates of criticism of the “cult of personality” of J.V. Stalin revived the function of critical analysis and construction of new meanings, characteristic of the intelligentsia, which was successfully suppressed in the USSR. The growth of critical sentiment among the Soviet intelligentsia in the conditions of desacralization of power and half-hearted de-Stalinization, the articulation of doubts about the effectiveness of the Soviet system began in the early 1960s to failures in economic policy. The economic uncompetitiveness of socialism in the conditions of weakening mobilization mechanisms for its development gives rise to a crisis of confidence in power among the Soviet intelligentsia. In the conditions of the USSR's transition to a post-industrial society, there is a growing dissonance between the humanization and technocratization of the Soviet intelligentsia and the further dogmatization of the CPSU system of ideological education. The result is an increasing trend since the mid-1960s anomie of the Soviet intelligentsia from power.