Grasping the Social: Reconnecting Sociological Theory and Qualitative Research

Joint Mid-Term Conference of the Research Networks on Social Theory and Qualitative Methods of the European Sociological Association

29th September – 1st October 2025 | University of Passau, Germany

Keynote speakers: Mike Featherstone (Goldsmiths, University of London); Stina Bergman Blix (Uppsala University)

Call for Papers:

There is a longstanding love affair between theoretical work and qualitative research in sociology. Qualitative methods provide nuanced and detailed insights into various social worlds that often inspire theoretical projects. In turn, theoretically informed perspectives help qualitative researchers to concisely conceptualize and strengthen their analytical approaches.

But there are also tensions in this relationship (as in all love affairs). A theorist can appear lofty and distant compared to research fieldwork, which is often motivated by openness to surprises and a reluctance to become too quickly tied to theoretical assumptions. A qualitative researcher, on the other hand, may be seen as overly descriptive and less interested in advancing sociology’s general knowledge, focusing more on their empirical data.

Sociology flourishes through the dynamic, circular partnership between theory and research. Instead of merely focusing on the limitations of research lacking a theoretical foundation or theory detached from empirical inquiry, it is essential to recognize the generative potential that arises when these two dimensions work in synergy. This relationship is not an arranged union prescribed solely in manuals; rather, it transcends the mere enhancement of rigor and depth. It is a dynamic partnership that sparks reflexivity, fosters meaningful engagement with social actors, and ensures the critical and transformative potential of sociological practice.

This conference highlights these – and more – aspects of the interconnected relationship between sociological theory and qualitative research. In a unique collaboration between the two ESA networks dedicated to theory and qualitative methods, we aim to strengthen ties and expand critical discourse on the practices of both theory and qualitative methods. When attempting to capture the social in theoretically and empirically oriented projects, we share an ambition to frame, explain, and understand from the standpoint of a sociologist – and to do so in a distinct and clarifying manner.

The conference welcomes (but is not limited to) contributions that address the following topics:

·         The relationships between qualitative data and theory construction

·         The significance of methodology in ethnographic and qualitative research

·         The role of qualitative data in theory

·         Reflections on the researcher’s social positioning

·         The significance of imagination in qualitative analysis

·         Bridging analytical approaches and theorizing

·         Philosophical aspects of qualitative research

·         The theoretical resources of digital qualitative methods and ethnography

·         Research design and theory

·         Creativity in qualitative research and theory

·         Theorizing research ethics

·         The critical mission of social theory and qualitative research

·         The role of social actors in theorizing and qualitative methods

·         Decolonizing theory and qualitative research practices

·         The role of AI in theory and qualitative research

·         The role of human and non-human actors in theory and research

We invite submissions that engage with these themes or related topics. If you are interested in contributing, please submit your abstract until March 31, 2025: https://shorturl.at/NSjfZ

For any questions or further information, feel free to contact the conference organizers: Tea Torbenfeldt Bengtsson (TTB@vive.dk), Arthur Bueno (arthur.bueno@uni-passau.de), Silvia Cataldi (silvia.cataldi@uniroma1.it), Kornelia Hahn (Kornelia.Hahn@plus.ac.at) and David Wästerfors (david.wasterfors@soc.lu.se).

More Info: https://www.europeansociology.org/research-networks/rn29-social-theory