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  4. Sociological Silhouettes: the Archaeology and Demography of Knowledge

Sociological Silhouettes: the Archaeology and Demography of Knowledge

File(s)
McGail_cornellgrad_0058F_14028.pdf (3.95 MB)
Permanent Link(s)
http://doi.org/10.7298/ftkt-de94
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/115722
Collections
Cornell Theses and Dissertations
Author
McGail, Alec
Abstract

This dissertation extends prior work on the evolution of the social sciences from two unconventional angles. First, I dig up significant “deaths” of cited works in sociology's history, and use citation context analysis and expert interviews to conduct rudimentary autopsies, to understand the mechanisms operative in their loss of recognition (Chapters 1 & 2). This inquiry is inductive, yet theoretically driven, looking to uncover overlooked mechanisms and historical developments, and documents former participants' perceptions of sociology’s forgotten past. Chapter 3 employs a demographic approach to study the life-courses of cited works, cited authors, publishing authors, and title terminology across five social sciences (anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology). The aim is to advance the sociology of sociology and science by creating informative artifacts from sociology's citation and publication history. By producing more artifacts than interpretations, this dissertation not only contributes to existing knowledge but invites deeper exploration into the intertwined evolution of social sciences.

Description
201 pages
Date Issued
2023-12
Keywords
demographics of knowledge
•
inductive
•
mixed-methods
•
sociology of knowledge
•
sociology of sociology
Committee Chair
Cornwell, Benjamin
Committee Member
Macy, Michael
Bensel, Richard
Degree Discipline
Sociology
Degree Name
Ph. D., Sociology
Degree Level
Doctor of Philosophy
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Type
dissertation or thesis
Link(s) to Catalog Record
https://newcatalog.library.cornell.edu/catalog/16454691

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