Over the past few decades serious reservations have been expressed about the explanatory power of sociological theory and research. In this important book, leading social theorist Peter Hedstrom outlines the foundations of an analytically oriented sociology that seeks to address this criticism. Building on his earlier influential contributions to contemporary debates, Professor Hedstrom argues for a systematic development of sociological theory so that it has the explanatory power and precision to inform sociological research and understanding. He discusses various mechanisms of action and interaction and shows how strong links can be forged between the micro and the macro, and between theory and empirical research. Combining approaches to theory and methodology and using extensive examples to illustrate how they might be applied, this clear, concise and original book will appeal to a broad range of social scientists.

彼得·赫斯特洛姆（Peter HedstrGm）教授，1955年生於瑞典。哈佛大學社會學博士。牛津大學社會學教授、納菲爾德學院院士（Nlaffield College）、歐洲社會學協會主席、前瑞典社會學協會主席。先後在哈佛大學、芝加哥大學、斯德哥爾摩大學、牛津大學執教。他與理查德·斯威德伯格教授（Richard Swedberg）於1998年閤著的《社會機製：社會理論的分析方法》（Social Mechanisms：An Analytical Approach to Social Theory）是經濟學社會學領域的經典著作，係諸多名校社會科學必讀書目。