ABSTRACT
Middle-range theory seeks to establish scientific laws about the impact of particular social factors on particular activities and avoids making comprehensive statements about society. It puts forward limited causal claims about specific social processes. Research middle-range theory assumes society to be composed of a wide variety of social processes each with its own particular characteristics and requiring its own particular theoretical understanding. Research middle-range theory is helpfully seen as denying that society is all of one piece and governed throughout by the same set of social laws. This chapter explores by adopting a realist philosophy of science. According to a realist philosophy of science, sociology is concerned with identifying generative mechanisms. When assessing a middle-range theory hypothesis, the middle-range theory and research literature as a whole should be used as a sensitising mechanism just as some concepts are in symbolic interaction.
