Measuring Culture

John W. Mohr · Christopher A. Bail · Margaret Frye · Jennifer C. Lena · Omar Lizardo · Terence E. McDonnell · Ann Mische · Iddo Tavory · Frederick F. Wherry

Aug 2020 · Columbia University Press

About this ebook

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.

About the author

John W. Mohr (1956–2019) was professor of sociology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Christopher A. Bail is professor of sociology, public policy, and data science at Duke University.

Margaret Frye is assistant professor of sociology at the University of Michigan.

Jennifer C. Lena is associate professor of arts administration at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she also has a courtesy appointment in the Department of Sociology.

Omar Lizardo is professor and LeRoy Neiman Term Chair of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Terence E. McDonnell is associate professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame.

Ann Mische is associate professor of sociology and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame.

Iddo Tavory is associate professor of sociology at New York University.

Frederick F. Wherry is the Townsend Martin Class of 1917 professor of sociology at Princeton University.