Micro-Macro Links and Microfoundations in Sociology

Micro-Macro Links and Microfoundations in Sociology focuses on two main issues in sociology. Firstly, how macro-conditions can explain macro-outcomes mediated by actor behaviour at the micro-level (micro-macro links). Secondly, how alternative micro-models affect macro-outcomes (microfoundations). The contributions reflect key features of micro-macro modelling in sociology as well as recent progress in this field. The chapters address core features of explanations of social phenomena using micro-macro models, the problem of cooperation, heterogeneity of actors, structural balance, opinion formation, segregation, and problems of micro-macro models that are based on rational choice assumptions. Moreover, the contributions show how different research methods can be applied fruitfully, such as laboratory experiments, equilibrium analysis, and agent-based modelling.

As a result, the book can be a guide for graduate students who want to develop their skills in building micro-macro models. In addition, the book provides specialists of the different substantive research areas with up-to-date new developments in their research area.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Journal of Mathematical Sociology.

Vincent Buskens is professor of theoretical sociology at the Department of Sociology/ICS, Utrecht University, The Netherlands and professor of Empirical Legal Studies at the Erasmus School of Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. His main research areas are theoretical sociology, game theory, social networks, mathematical sociology, methods of empirical social science research.

Werner Raub is professor of theoretical sociology at the Department of Sociology/ICS, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. His main research areas are theoretical sociology, organization theory and economic sociology, mathematical sociology, experiments and the use of complementary research designs in the social sciences, sociological applications of neuroscience.

Marcel Van Assen is assistant professor at the Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, The Netherlands. His research interests include mathematical sociology, mathematical psychology, rational choice sociology, social networks, and statistics.