چکیده:
Meta-theory is one of the newest developments in theorizing. While theorists regard the social world as their subject matter, meta-theorists engage in studying the systematic structure of theory itself. Meta-theorizing in social science literature has emerged under various titles such as macro-sociology, reflexive sociology, and the sociology of sociology. Although this model has expanded within the sociological field, it can also be applied to other research areas. Meta-theory serves as a tool for achieving a deeper understanding of theory, and its goal is to explain and critique the meta-theoretical assumptions that form the foundation of theories, as well as to formulate principles for evaluating theories. Many theorists have emphasized the necessity of advancing and developing social theory. Since meta-theorizing is an effective step in enriching theories, more attention should be devoted to this field. The main objective of this article is to present the essential parameters of this approach. This article first addresses the contexts of growth in meta-theoretical studies and the nature of meta-theory, and then discusses the types of meta-theory and meta-theoretical analysis techniques, with an emphasis on Ritzer's meta-theoretical approach.
خلاصه ماشینی:
Postmodern thought, in its denial of truth and uncertainty, has influenced meta-theorists in two ways: on one hand, inspired by the concept of deconstruction, meta-theorists have attempted to re-examine sociological paradigms with the aim of discovering the nature of theories, gaining a better understanding of them, and synthesizing and creating new theories.
There are different interpretations of meta-theoretical study: A - Meta-theory, in a general sense, means the systematic study of the structure of existing theories in the humanities, including sociology; thus, meta-theorizing can be considered one of the fundamental entries in realizing the process of transformation in the human sciences.
Neufeld )& Guralink, 1994: 851) Within the terminological framework, based on the views of the main thinkers of this field such as George Ritzer, meta-theory is the systematic study of the fundamental structure of a social theory.
(Ritzer, 1991: 621a) In other words, this approach constitutes the method of conducting meta-study and, to put it another way, the meta-analysis of the structure of theories and theorists.
(Ford & Lawler, 1993: 174) Alongside these matters, Ritzer states that this mode of thinking and studying used by meta-theorists is useful for clarifying our theoretical differences and also reveals where a stronger connection between theories is possible.
B - As a theoretical research, meta-theory provides a precise model for understanding the works and effects of theorists and the structure of intellectual, social, internal, and external factors that influence their theorizing.
(
, 
, 
)
