Micro-sociologist hunt

June 11, 2009 6:35 AM

Where do i find some of the top professors and researchers (in universities) doing Micro-Sociology (interaction or social mechanism based). This is the level of research that I wish to focus my research on, I just cant seem to find the researchers using that level of analysis. Also, are there some seminal texts in the micro sociology fields.

I want to start contacting researchers soon so I know where I want to apply in 5 or so months when apps are open. So, before then I want to get a better understanding of the micro-sociology field... and I don'twant to miss a great fit because I don't know the soch field that well yet.

posted by elationfoundation to Education (8 answers total)

Seminal texts: Goffman (Presentation of Self, Stigma, Asylums).

I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for. Cecilia Ridgeway at Stanford is a big name analyzing from the perspective of interactions.

Can you be more specific about what you're looking for? Maybe give an example of an article or two that fits your criteria?
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:43 AM on June 11, 2009

Well, if by interaction you mean social interaction, then I would suggest people working in the areas of Ethnomethodology/Conversation Analysis. The best place to do this right now in the US is UCLA, the home of Emanuel Schegloff and John Heritage in Sociology and Charles Goodwin in Applied Linguistics. But depending on what you want to look at, there are people doing this all over. Paul ten Have's Ethno/CA news site is the best resource to find more info on this area.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 6:53 AM on June 11, 2009

Much of the social mechanism work is done using rational choice frameworks. Good departments for that include the University of Washington and Nuffield College, Oxford. You might try reading Hedstrom & Swedberg's "Social Mechanisms" book and checking out some of the faculty contributors.
posted by proj at 11:35 AM on June 11, 2009

Are you considering ethno/CA? I'd be happy to have you work with me if you want to come to Canada...
posted by ethnomethodologist at 1:42 PM on June 11, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks!
"If Only I had a penguin" I study conflict resolution and am looking to get a PhD in a research field where I can really examine how conflict dynamics shift. I was enamored with Collins book Violence and wanted to get an idea of who else was doign similar work.
posted by elationfoundation at 1:45 PM on June 11, 2009

Why not look at Communication Departments?
posted by k8t at 4:51 PM on June 11, 2009

Response by poster: K8t: I am shying away from communications as that was my undergrad. I found a lot of use for it but have found that its limitations (specific focus) outweigh its insight for the topic I am studying. I am looking for sociological approaches because my focus is on the social mechanisms, some of which, that are not meant to be communicative.
posted by elationfoundation at 5:54 PM on June 11, 2009

I'd say broaden your search to sociologists focusing on conflict resolution, and see what kinds of work you find. Many may not be tagging themselves "micro" anything, yet.

(And I'm going to suggest reading some Sudhir Venkatesh, particularly Gang Leader for a Day, since he follows a gang leader for several years, and sees some...well, conflict)
posted by bilabial at 3:33 AM on June 12, 2009