On Theory and Contemporary Theorising in Social Sciences

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/2450-4491.20.02

Keywords:

theory, theorising, analysis, synthesis, significance of theory in social sciences

Abstract

Theory and theorising are essential issues for science. Every science. And especially for the social sciences. For this reason, the author of the article indicates some of the influential tendencies in these sciences that eliminate theory from thinking about the discipline and also from thinking about empirical research. Even though essential and groundbreaking theoretical works appear in world literature, mainstream publications reduce theory to quotes, lists, and sometimes only chapter mottos. The author ponders the conditions for this state of affairs. He concludes that reviewers are partly responsible for this state of affairs and are not always interested in original and - above all - independent analyses; they are not interested in working with the text. For this reason, authors engage in “compilation” activity, which can hardly be called scientific in the traditional sense. In the final word of this essay, the author enumerates the weaknesses of this state of affairs and possible long-term consequences for developing social science theory.

Author Biography

  • Sławomir Banaszak, Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu

    Sławomir Banaszak – Prof. UAM Dr., Hab. sociologist, specialist in organisation and management, head of the Department of Methodology of Social Sciences. He specialises in the methodology of social sciences, managerialism, economic sociology, sociology of work, and managerial education. Author: Japanese and Polish Managers. Economy, Management and Education (2023), Managers in contemporary society. A study in the sociology of education (2019), Diagnosis in the individual and social approach (2019), Managerial education in modern society. A theoretical and empirical study (2011), Sociological, educational and psychological problems of organisation and management (2009, 2nd edition 2011), Problems of economic sociology (2008), Sociological and psychological problems of organisation and management (2007), Managers in social structure (2006). He completed study visits: London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), École des hautes études commerciales de Paris (HEC Paris), Institut européen d’administration des affaires, Fontainebleau (INSEAD), Stockholm University, Instituto de Estudios Superiores de la Empresa, Barcelona (IESE Business School), Bocconi School of Management, Milan.

References

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Published

2025-07-03

How to Cite

Banaszak, Sławomir. 2025. “On Theory and Contemporary Theorising in Social Sciences”. Nauki O Wychowaniu. Studia Interdyscyplinarne 20 (1): 14-24. https://doi.org/10.18778/2450-4491.20.02.