Social Causation and Biographical Research: Philosophical, Theoretical and Methodological Arguments

This book argues that biographical research can explain why things in social and personal lives are one way and not another, bringing reconstructive biographical research into dialogue with critical realism. It develops the philosophical idea of singular causation as a means to forge causal hypotheses and offers guidance on the application of this methodological principle to concrete, empirical examples.

Format: Hardback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the realm of biographical research, challenging the notion that causal explanations are inherently at odds with this field. Instead, it argues that biographical research holds immense value in explaining the reasons behind the diverse ways in which social and personal lives unfold. By engaging in a dialogue with critical realism, the book explores how relational social ontology can emerge as a distinctive theoretical framework for uncovering emergent mechanisms and latent meaning structures. Through an in-depth examination of why reductionist epistemologies, rational action models, and covering law explanations are inadequate for biographical research, the authors develop the philosophical concept of singular causation. This concept serves as a guiding principle for biographical researchers, enabling them to form causal hypotheses regarding the occurrence of events and providing practical guidance on how to apply this methodological principle to concrete empirical examples. As a result, this volume appeals to scholars across various social sciences, particularly those with a keen interest in biographical research and social research methods.

Weight: 282g
Dimension: 142 x 224 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367620363