Explanation in Sociology and Coleman’s Diagram

Werner Raub

doi:10.1007/s11577-026-01047-y

Explanation in Sociology and Coleman’s Diagram

Werner Raub^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Coleman’s diagram is a visualization of rigorous sociology in line with methodological individualism. In this contribution, I argue for conceiving of the nodes and arrows of the diagram as representing key kinds of assumptions and implications of theory and explanation in sociology. Examples highlighting this perspective on the diagram, as well as various consequences, are discussed. A recurrent theme is that the diagram needs to be distinguished from theory and explanation as such.

Original language	English
Journal	Kolner Zeitschrift fur Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11577-026-01047-y
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 23 Jan 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2026.

Keywords

Macro-level
Macro-micro-macro links
Macro-regularities
Micro-level
Rigorous sociology

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10.1007/s11577-026-01047-yLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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KW - Micro-level

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Explanation in Sociology and Coleman’s Diagram

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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