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The sociology of quantification - perspectives on an emerging field in the social sciences
Die Soziologie der Quantifizierung - Perspektiven auf ein entstehendes Feld in den Sozialwissenschaften
[journal article]
Abstract The introductory article to this HSR Special Issue presents the emerging field of sociology of quantification, which can be regarded as a transdisciplinary approach to the analysis of processes of quantification. Processes of categorization and classification are included because they can result in ... view more
The introductory article to this HSR Special Issue presents the emerging field of sociology of quantification, which can be regarded as a transdisciplinary approach to the analysis of processes of quantification. Processes of categorization and classification are included because they can result in processes of generating figures and numbers also. The contribution sketches the science-historical development of this field. It is argued that processes of quantification are related in many ways with other social and socio-economic processes. Therefore, one can speak of a comprehensive political economy of statistics, quantification and categorization. Especially the works of the French statistician and sociologist Alain Desrosières are an innovative and far-reaching groundwork for the analysis of statistics, quantification and categorization. Also, Desrosières has pointed to the fundamental role of conventions for processes of quantification (as for processes of categorization) and he has published important contributions to the French science movement of economics of convention (économie des conventions). At the end of the article, a set of positions for a sociology of quantification are presented.... view less
Keywords
sociology; quantification; measurement; quantitative method; statistics; historical development; Bourdieu, P.; Foucault, M.; category; research approach; actor-network-theory; convention; social research
Classification
Research Design
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories
Free Keywords
Sociology of quantification; Alain Desrosières; economics of convention; categorization; INSEE
Document language
English
Publication Year
2016
Page/Pages
p. 7-26
Journal
Historical Social Research, 41 (2016) 2
Issue topic
Conventions and quantification - transdisciplinary perspectives on statistics and classifications
DOI
https://doi.org/10.12759/hsr.41.2016.2.7-26
ISSN
0172-6404
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed