MEASURING CULTURE
John W. Mohr, Christopher A. Bail, Margaret Frye, Jennifer C. Lena, Omar Lizardo, Terence E. McDonnell, Ann Mische, Iddo Tavory, and Frederick F. Wherry
Social scientists seek to develop systematic ways to understand how people make meaning and how the meanings they make shape them and the world in which they live. But how do we measure such processes? Measuring Culture is an essential point of entry for both those new to the field and those who are deeply immersed in the measurement of meaning. Written collectively by a team of leading qualitative and quantitative sociologists of culture, the book considers three common subjects of measurement—people, objects, and relationships—and then discusses how to pivot effectively between subjects and methods. Measuring Culture takes the reader on a tour of the state of the art in measuring meaning, from discussions of neuroscience to computational social science. It provides both the definitive introduction to the sociological literature on culture as well as a critical set of case studies for methods courses across the social sciences.
Endorsements
"Measuring Culture is the canonical text we have been waiting for in the sociology of culture. It is a massive achievement that will be the definitive account on the topic for a long time to come. I'll be thinking with it, teaching with it, and recommending it." —Clayton Childress, author of Under the Cover: The Creation, Production, and Reception of a Novel
"Although books that emerge from conferences often have little value beyond showing funders some 'product,' Measuring Culture is a brilliant exception. Some of the best and brightest twenty-first century cultural sociologists have both synthesized and extended the state-of-the-art in applying the rigor of scientific inquiry to the fluidity of culture. Measuring Culture is more than valuable; it is vital." —Wendy Griswold, author of American Guides: The Federal Writers’ Program and the Casting of American Culture
"Destined to leave its mark on the social sciences, this wonderful book offers phenomenologically-inflected multilevel approaches to analyzing meanings, cultural objects, and relationships. The splendid cast of authors, each of them midcareer stars, combine their distinct strengths to offer an innovative pluralistic state-of-the-art agenda that will appeal to many." —Michèle Lamont, Harvard University
"Nine coauthors have created one slim, graceful, exhilarating book. An analytic tour de force, Measuring Culture is a theoretical overview of what sociologists of culture might measure, culminating in engrossing narratives of three important research endeavors. We see creative scholars combining interpretation and innovative measurement strategies to deepen cultural analysis. If you’ve wondered whether innovations in measuring culture have a payoff, this book is your answer. Measuring Culture is a perfect tribute to John Mohr’s brilliance, his sparkle, and his humanity." —Ann Swidler, coauthor of A Fraught Embrace: The Romance and Reality of AIDS Altruism in Africa
"Can culture be measured—and if so, how? This collectively authored volume develops a learned and critical response to these questions, describing myriad ways sociologists have measured culture at multiple levels. Taking its own full measure of cultural meaning, and managing to reflect intelligently on the meaning of measurement itself, Measuring Culture is astute, open-minded, and eminently readable." —Robin Wagner-Pacifici, author of What Is an Event?
REVIEWS
"Above all else, readers from all sub-fields in sociology should take the book’s main theses to heart: culture can be measured, but ‘‘there can be no measurement without interpretation.’’ —Laura K. Nelson, Contemporary Sociology
"Written for an intended audience of empirically engaged cultural sociologists, the book ultimately aims to launch a wider conversation that jumpstarts the imagination and encourages researchers to reach beyond their preferred methods of data collection and analysis." —Kyla Tully, Cultural Trends
"Their aim was to develop a consensus on an analytical approach to the study of culture that could indeed transcend the opposition between formal and interpretative analysis. The result is an extraordinary piece of work. The authors managed to incorporate a wealth of insights into a short and highly readable book, which students can use to navigate the current state of the art in cultural sociology, and which accomplished researchers will admire for the seamless integration of various theoretical and methodological discussions." —Alex Van Venrooij, American Sociological Association
"Measuring Culture offers what you would expect from it: a wide-ranging, easy-to-read and accessible book." —Julian Schaap & Stijn Daenekindt, Tijdschrift Sociologie
“So many talented scholars, who have each made outstanding contributions to the field, have come together to craft and publish this fascinating book." —Phillip Poschmann, Organization Studies
"Measuring Culture is an insightful and well-written guide through the field of empirical investigations in cultural sociology. The book convincingly argues that we need both interpretative, context-dependent, and more formalistic, abstract ways to capture cultural phenomena. Both approaches are ideally used in conjunction, strengthening and amplifying each other." —Michael Weinhardt, Canadian Journal of Sociology
“Measuring Culture is as much theory as method; it will be of great use to both. I’m sure it will be a canonical text in courses and workshops as a guidebook for how to think analytically about culture. It will serve that role admirably due to its breadth and its schematic structure.” —Andrew J. Perrin, Social Forces