Whether they involve sexual partners in the bedroom, customers and sales clerks in stores, or work colleagues in committee meetings, interpersonal relations between real people are the essential heart of society. But it is a 'heart' that has, for too long, been overlooked in social and psychological[...]

In this textbook, Derek Layder offers a better understanding of the links between theory and research, and provides an analysis of the relationship between the two. He develops clear usable strategies to encourage theory development in the practical context of social research, and introduces a new a[...]

A central problem in contemporary social theory is that of providing an account of social interaction that does justice both to the self-monitoring capacities of the individuals involved and to the society that 'frames' the interaction. This book attempts to resolve this problem, arguing for an obje[...]

This book is intended for undergraduate courses in social theory for second and third year sociology students, as well as postgraduate and academic researchers. Secondary markets include social psychology, social geography, social anthopology, cultural studies.[...]