中层理论:回顾与反思

Middle-Range Theory: Review and Reflection

自罗伯特·金·默顿提出"中层理论"以来,它业已成为社科研究中最重要的方法论概念之一。在为社会科学发展做出巨大贡献的同时,它也遭遇到很多批评。系统回顾中层理论的历史、价值和局限性,并从社会科学哲学的角度予以评判,有助于我们超越目前常见的从经验主义和实证主义立场对此概念所做的解读和倡导,更深入地理解宏大理论、中层理论与经验研究三者之间的关系,进而为当代中国的社会学研究提供有益反思。

Since the introducing of Robert K. Merton, Middle Range Theory（MRT） has become a dominant methodological concept of social sciences. Although profoundly altering the visage of social sciences, it has been subjected to a great deal of criticism. A review and evaluation from the perspective of philosophy of social sciences on the history, value and flaws of MRT will help us surpass the traditional explanation of it from the standpoint of empiricism and positivism, and provide us a deeper insight on the relationship between grand theory, MRT and empirical study, which finally leads to a reflection on the sociological studies in contemporary China.