Methodological Reflections on Practice Oriented Theories

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxi

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2. Methodologies and Methodological Aspects of Practice Theories

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Sociology of Social Practices: Theory or Modus Operandi of Empirical Research?

      • Robert Schmidt

      Pages 3-17

   3. Practice Theory as a Package of Theory, Method and Vocabulary: Affordances and Limitations

      • Davide Nicolini

      Pages 19-34

   4. Relationality and Heterogeneity: Transitive Methodology in Practice Theory and Actor-Network Theory

      • Hilmar Schäfer

      Pages 35-46

   5. Conducting Ethnography with a Sensibility for Practice

      • Michal Sedlačko

      Pages 47-60

3. Conceptualisation of the Individual and of the Body in Practice Oriented Empirical Research

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 61-61

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   2. Embodying Practices: The Human Body as Matter (of Concern) in Social Thought

      • Jörg Niewöhner, Stefan Beck

      Pages 63-77

   3. (Re)Configuring Actors in Practice

      • Anna Pichelstorfer

      Pages 79-92

   4. White-Collar Bodywork: Practice Centrism and the Materiality of Knowledge Work

      • Stefan Laube

      Pages 93-105

   5. Personal Metrics: Methodological Considerations of a Praxiographical Approach

      • Marianne de Laet

      Pages 107-123

4. Empirical Practice Theory Oriented Case Studies and Methodological Reflections

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 125-125

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   2. Beyond the Body’s Skin. Describing the Embodiment of Practices

      • Sophie Merit Müller

      Pages 127-143

   3. Making Sense of Noise: Practice Oriented Approach to Sound

      • Kai Ginkel

      Pages 145-159

   4. Combining Methods in Practice Oriented Research

      • Beate Littig, Michaela Leitner

      Pages 161-175

   5. Understanding Everyday Kitchen Life: Looking at Performance, into Performances and for Practices

      • Lydia Martens, Sue Scott

      Pages 177-191

   6. Questioning the ‘Gold Standard’ Thinking in Qualitative Methods from a Practice Theoretical Perspective: Towards Methodological Multiplicity

      • Bente Halkier

      Pages 193-204

   7. Creativity at Work: Methodological Challenges for a Praxeological Research Program

      • Hannes Krämer

      Pages 205-219

   8. How Biologists ‘Meet’

      • Sarah Maria Schönbauer

      Pages 221-234

   9. ‘Mobile Practices’, ‘Mobile Methods’ and Beyond: Studying Railway Mobility Using Lefebvre’s Theory of Space

      • Silvia Rief

      Pages 235-250

This volume presents a comprehensive overview of methodological issues and empirical methods of practice-oriented research. It examines questions regarding the scope and boundaries of practice-oriented approaches and practice theory. It discusses the potential advantages and disadvantages of the diversity resulting from the use of these approaches, as well as method and methodology-related issues. The specific questions explored in this volume are: What consequences are linked to the application of a praxeological perspective in empirical research when it comes to the choice of methods? Is there such a thing as an ideal path to follow in praxeological empirical research? What relationship is there between qualitative and quantitative approaches? What differentiates practice-based social research from other perspectives and approaches such as discourse analysis or hermeneutics? The contributions in this book discuss these questions either from a methodological point of view or from a reflective perspective on empirical research practices.

• Developments in Molecular Biology
• Knowledge Work and the Knowledge Society
• Methodological Reflections Theodore Schatzki’s Site Ontology
• Neurosciences on Body-Environment Interaction
• Practice Theories in Sociology of Consumption
• Practice Theory and the Actor-Network-Approach
• Practice Theory on Methodology
• Practice of Moving
• Praxeological Epistemology and Method
• Praxeological Research Program
• Researching Mundane Practices

• Department of Sociology, Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS), Vienna, Australia

  Michael Jonas

• Department of Sociology, Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS), Vienna, Austria

  Beate Littig

• Department of Sociology, Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Vienna, Austria

  Angela Wroblewski

Michael Jonas is a senior researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna¸ Division Socio-Ecological Transformation. Following a praxeological perspective, he is currently researching social inequality, injustice and unsustainability at a global level. He teaches at several universities. 

Beate Littig is a sociologist and Head of the Division Socio-Ecological Transformation Research (SET) at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna. In addition she is a permanent lecturer at the University of Vienna and teaches at international summer schools and workshops. Her research interests are the future of work, social sustainability, practices of change, gender studies and qualitative research methods. 

Angela Wroblewski is senior researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Vienna, Division Socio-Ecological Transformation. Her current research focuses on the analysis of equality policies in academia and employment as well as the development of gender indicators.

Policies and ethics