Preface and Acknowledgments
         1. Methods for Sociology and Related Disciplines
         What Kind of Theory Do Sociologists Study?
         The Formation of Methodological Factions
         An Outline of the Argument
         Problem I: The Centrality of Distances in Study Design for Causal Theories
         Problem II: Economy in Data Collection
         Problem III: Using Data to Refine Concepts and "Measurements" of Concepts
         Problem IV: Contexts; Differences and Distances between Contexts; Contexts Shaping Causal Processes
         Problem V: Using Data to Find Mechanisms and Processes; Relation of Such Process Concepts to Concepts of Units of Analysis
         Problem VI: Testing Theories by Testing Hypotheses with Data
         Problem VII: Using Data to Refine Theories
         Self-Evaluation 
         2. Distances as Central to Causal Reasoning and Methods
         The Minimum Piece of Causal Information Is Two Distances
         Difference, Distance, Units, Causes within Units
         Closer and Farther: Numbers, Lines, and Curves
         The Centrality of Distances in Later Chapters of This Book 
         3. The Basic Structure of Economy in Social Research
         The Centrality of Distances in Study Design
         Differences among Cultures or Societies
         Intensity of Observation
         Sparse Fields and the Expense of Getting a Grip on a Case
         Stinchcombe Methods Slavery Short Version
         Clemens Books Short Version
         Theoretical Methods to Increase Economies in Data Collection
         Theory Allowing One to Use Data from a "Lower" Level
         The Theoretical Penumbra and Exploratory Research
         Getting Unconfounded Distances
         When Not to Follow my Advice on Sampling Extreme Cases Intensively
         "Nearby" Theories and the Value of Data
         Process Data
         Becker Short Version
         Context
         Appendix: General Note on American "Random" Samples 
         4. Using Data to Refine Concepts of Distances between Units of Analysis
         "Sensitizing Concepts” and Improving Them
         Institutionalized Definitions
         "Informal" Institutions
         Methodological Implications of the Examples
         Extending the Notion
         Distances between Situations
         Quantitative and Qualitative Distances
         Exemplification of Discrete Variables
         Stinchcombe Logic of Analogy Short Version
         The Opposite End: Exact Concepts
         Criteria for Good Concepts with Good Measurements
         Stinchcombe Psychology of Rebellion Short Version
         Uses of Exactness
         Principles of Refining Concepts of Distances 
         5. Refining Concepts about Contexts
         Concepts about Context, and Context-Specific Concepts
         Books for Context, Articles for Causation with Assumed Context
         Contexts to Study Meanings
         The Relation of Context to Distances between Units of Analysis
         Periodization and Localization in Historical Sociology
         Clemens Time Short Version
         Geographical and Temporal Boundaries of Context
         Exactness of Concepts of Context; Institutions as Contexts of Organizations
         Schneiberg-Clemens Institutionalism Methods Short Version
         Concepts and Variables about Contexts
         Summary on Concepts of Context 
         6. Units of Analysis and Mechanisms: Turning Causes into Effects
         The Interdependence of Concepts and Units of Analysis
         Abbott Short Version
         Investigating Analogies and Their Causal Meaning
         Analogies between Distances as the Core of Analogies between Units of Analysis
         An Example of a Mechanism Paper
         Five Main Kinds of Mechanisms and Units of Analysis
         Stinchcombe Mechanisms Short Version
         A Basic Mechanism with Variants: Complex Cultural Objects, Their Creators, and Their Users
         Methodological Strategy on Texts, Discourse, and Reception
         Objects and Actions, Griswold and the Artist-Audience Relation
         Griswold Short Version
         Back to Books versus Articles
         Reception versus Production
         Scholarly Citations as Evidence of "Serious" Reception
         Interpretation
         Explanation by Interpretation
         Summary: Methods for the Sociology of High Culture
         Bargains as Social Systems and Creators of Social Orders
         Summary on Bargains
         Methods to Study When Bargains Hold
         Mobilization as a Mechanism
         Social Movement Theory and Diffusion Theory
         "Seekers," "Cosmopolitans," "Other Adopters," and "Opponents"
         Stinchcombe Time Short Version
         Ties of Trust
         Adoption and Rejection after Adoption: New Things in the Life World
         Comparative Racism: Methods for Sorting Out Mechanisms
         Why Historical?
         Conclusion 
         7. Testing Theories by Testing Hypotheses with Data
         Regression as Creating a Parameterized Comparison Group, as a "Null Hypothesis" for "Residual Analysis"
         A Note on R2
         Hierarchical Models
         Observations on Partial Distances
         Rules of Thumb for Increasing Power of Observations for Causal Studies
         Stinchcombe Causes Short Version
         Strong Hierarchical Reasoning: Statistical Form
         Back to the Residuals Method
         The Character of "Resolution" as a Methodological Criterion
         Refining Fieldwork Observations
         Resolution on a Grand Scale
         The "Preferences" of Organizations
         Strategic Questions in "Testing" Theories
         An Overall View of What These Strategies Do
         Variances, Interactions, Boundaries, Scope Conditions and General Complexification
         Complexification and Fish Scale Models of Science
         Summary on Testing 
         8. Improving Theories with Data
         Theories as Crafted
         What Does Crafting Mean?
         Crafting Methods
         Stinchcombe Slavery Short Version
         Stinchcombe Information Short Version
         Heimer and Staffen Methods Short Version
         Elegance, Power, and Economy
         Stinchcombe Rebellion No Answers Short Version
         Responsibility
         Heimer and Staffen Responsibility Short Version
         Complex Causal Roles of Concepts, Complex Concepts, and Complex Fieldwork Studies
         Conclusion
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