Peter Abell

A Case for Cases Comparative Narratives in Sociological Explanation

When case studies are constructed as narratives, then causal explanation can be achieved without either comparison or generalization. Narratives provide paths of causal links on a chronology of actions or events. The links, in turn, can be studied as Bayesian inferences generating Bayesian narratives. The causal paths in a narrative have a Boolean structure.

Some aspects of narrative method

The idea of abstracting and/or generalising the structure of a narrative (i.e. a set of weakly connected human actions) using a mapping rule which creates either a tolerance (a symmetric reflexive relationship) or an equivalence on the domain set is explored. The paper is an extension of earlier work by the author. A detailed example of the use of narrative analysis is provided which links the analysis into a game‐theoretic context. … for each of us is a biography, a story. Each of us is a singular narrative, which is constructed, continually, unconsciously, by, through, and in us—through our perceptions, our feelings, our thoughts, our actions; and not least, our discourse, our spoken narrations. Biologically, physiologically, we are not so different from each other; historically, as narratives—we are each of us unique. To be ourselves we must have ourselves—possess, if needs be re‐possess, our life stories. We must “recollect” ourselves, recollect the inner drama, the narrative of ourselves. A man needs...

Causality and Low-Frequency Complex Events The Role of Comparative Narratives

This article seeks to describe complex events (often occurring at low frequency) where standard statistical modeling of causality is not likely to prove feasible. Such events are perhaps best analyzed using the method of comparative narratives, which relies on an internal model of causality.

Structural Balance: A Dynamic Perspective

The paper presents results derived from a series of simulations of signed networks (i.e., networks containing positive and negative links) subject to a balancing process. The dynamics are followed in a space defined by variations in the proportion of positive links introduced and the tolerance to imbalance. The authors claim to have discovered boundaries in the space separating it into three distinct regions. One region probably displays the characteristics of self-organized criticality, which may have implications for the theory of extreme events.

Performance effects of venture capital firm networks

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the networking effects of venture capital (VC) firms on portfolio companies. VCs can bring specific skills and abilities to their ongoing relationships with their portfolio companies and thus add value by influencing key portfolio company operations. High levels of engagement also translate into giving advice and support, helping with the team culture, creating strategic alliances, or exercising corporate governance. A particular mechanism through which these support services are delivered is syndication investment.Design/methodology/approach – Using network theory tools the paper investigates the effects of syndication on VC firm performance.Findings – The paper finds that networked VC firms are better placed to benefit from their investments.Originality/value – The paper sheds light on the importance of network relationships in the venture capital industry.

Methodological Achievements in Sociology Over the Past Few Decades with Special Reference to the Interplay of Quantitative and Qualitative Methods

Sociologists have always sought to understand the remarkably complex phenomena they choose to study by adopting a variety of research methods, amongst which are: surveys, case studies, participant observation, field and ethnographic studies, the secondary analysis of published statistics, documentary and content analysis, comparative historical methods and even occasionally fully fledged experiments.

Putting social theory right

The paper considers some of the implications of Coleman Diagrams in the context of the study of social interaction at the microlevel. Such studies cannot be adequately modeled without improved theoretical rigor. The Theory of Comparative Narratives is advanced as one possible analytical framework of the modeling of interactions.

Homo sociologicus: do we need him/her?

Until quite recently rational action or choice theory (spawned by Homo Economicus) had gained few adherents amongst those who struggle to find adequate foundational ideas for a sociological theory. Things now look more promising, however; Coleman has given us a truly remarkable work, and a number of journals are beginning to carry articles informed by a rational choice perspective (1990). For many, of course, the entire edifice of sociological theory rests upon assumptions, either that human actions are neither self-regarding nor rational (i.e., not optimally chosen) or that such actions are of peripheral interest because human actors are propelled by Durkheimian structural forces beyond their control-thus at least one version of Homo Sociologicus. Yet for others, the vocabulary of action and motive provides only post hoc rationalizations, and all we are entitled to examine are the entrails of a rationalizing discourse. I suspect, however, that one reason why rational action theory is experiencing a new lease on life is precisely because these various approaches, when stripped of their verbal pretensions and quasi-philosophical veneer, appear to be rapidly leading us nowhere. Although it would not be prudent to claim that rational choice theory is likely to solve all the theoretical puzzles a sociologist might pose, in my view it must be given pride of place. In the space available I cannot make a sustained case for this assertion. Rather I have chosen to concentrate upon one issue, namely the relationship between explanations of human action from (on the one hand) the precepts of rational action theory (RAT) and (on the other) from the constraint or facilitation of normative expectations. I take this route for a number of reasons: first, because for many, the most compelling mode of sociological explanation is in terms of social norms (i.e., normative expectations); second, because Coleman has argued that action compliant with social norms can be subsumed under RAT; and third, because Elster has argued to the contrary (1989). If Coleman is right and Elster wrong, then the case for at least one conception of Homo Sociologicus is undermined. Elster makes several claims, as follows:

Social Capital and Entrepreneurship in Great Britain

This paper examines the evidence for the existence of a link between social capital and the propensity to become an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is proxied by self-employment and the influence of social capital is indicated both indirectly in aggregate-level data analysis and directly in micro-level data. The results suggest a modest, but heretofore neglected influence of social capital on entrepreneurship levels and suggest a reason why existing research on self-employment has tended to produce inconclusive and inconsistent results.

Structural Balance in Dynamic Structures

A dynamic structure is defined as one where the number of relations in the structure is changing over time. The theory of structural balance is outlined in the context of incomplete structures, as dynamic structures are necessarily incomplete at some instant. Theorems concerning the partitioning properties of incomplete symmetric and non-symmetric structures are considered. Finally, the theory of balance is placed on a probabilistic footing.