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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

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Sociology

Faculty Publications

University of South Carolina

1997

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Power In Exchange Networks: Critique Of A New Theory, Barry N. Markovsky, David Willer, Brent Simpson, Michael J. Lovaglia Oct 1997

Power In Exchange Networks: Critique Of A New Theory, Barry N. Markovsky, David Willer, Brent Simpson, Michael J. Lovaglia

Faculty Publications

Markovsky et al criticize Yamaguchi's (1996) theory of power in social exchange networks, revealing internal theoretical contradictions. Yamaguchi responds to the criticisms.


Evolution And Nebulousness In Theories, Barry N. Markovsky Aug 1997

Evolution And Nebulousness In Theories, Barry N. Markovsky

Faculty Publications

Social scientists have a clear choice in how they may approach theory development. One path leads to "nebulous" theories that lack any real explanatory power. The other path capitalizes on evolutionary principles of variation and selection, vastly increasing the chances for explanatory success. I illustrate these ideas by reference to "artificial life" programs, and discuss the implications for theory construction in the social sciences.