Answer to Question #235524 in Sociology for NEO

Question

Explain the influence of context and level of operation on the choice of meta- theory and method.

Answer 1

Meta-theory refers to comprehensive perceptions, which make claims regarding the nature of reality. Meta-theories philosophically reinforce research and practice. Context has the following influence on the choice of meta-theory in which it has two opposite philosophical orientations about the nature of reality; positivism and constructivism. On the one hand, positivism claims for the absolute truth, regularities, and causal laws, whereas, on the other hand, constructivism argues for the reality which is relative to one’s position within the social system.

Methodological holism takes as its basic unit of analysis, and focuses most of its attention on, “social wholes” such as community structures, social institutions, imperatively coordinated associations, and capitalism. Rationalism concerns itself with the relationship between social wholes and social individuals and overarches a series of theories that arose mainly in the 1980s to compensate for the micro- and macro-extremism of the two extant metatheories.   

Furthermore, through the level of operation, researchers become interested in new approaches as they appear in the field, and may change metatheories and methodologies during their career. Examples given below should be seen as just that, examples; researchers should not be assumed to be always unequivocally associated with a single metatheoretical approach.