Micromethods as a Basis for Macrosociology

Abstract

Microsociological research provides a crucial basis for any thorough macro-sociology. Total microreduction is not possible, but partial reduction is; all macrostructures can be translated into particular space, time, and number combinations of microprocesses. The basic microunit is the interactional situation, not the individual; social processes may be represented as chains of interaction rituals. Methodological innovations needed include a method of systematic microsampling of situations, both for description of the basis of macrostructures and for testing theories. Standardized measures of micro-situations may include recorded speech codes as a measure of cultural capital, emotional tones of spoken names as a measure of reputation, and voice tone, facial expression, or bodily posture as measures of emotional energies. One advantage of such techniques is that they may be unobtrusive measures.