Why did Merton advocate for "theories of the middle range"?
I advocated for "theories of the middle range" because I found that overly abstract, sweeping theories often lacked direct empirical applicability, while purely descriptive research could become a collection of facts without deeper theoretical insight. Middle-range theories are specific enough to be investigated empirically and abstract enough to be generalized beyond the immediate data. They serve as a crucial bridge, allowing us to test and refine sociological propositions in the real world.
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