略论叙事在中国社会研究中的运用及其限制

由于实证主义科学观支配了主流社会学的研究,预设它是惟一客观可靠的知识类型,从而使质性研究越来越被排斥到了边缘地位。叙事作为质性研究的一种,不仅仅是一种文学手法或情感表达,它与逻辑科学话语同样是一种基本的认知方式,对于丰富社会学的想象力有着重要的意义。叙事在中国社会研究中具有独特的地位,这是为中国社会生活的变通性、过程性和模糊性所决定的。叙事是否成功,取决于作者的问题感、材料的复杂性和讲故事的技巧。方法与研究对象是一致的,因此,与其用“叙事的时刻”去颠覆统计社会学的神话,不如为适当的问题选择适当的方法,克服韦伯所谓“方法论的瘟疫”。

Application of Narration in the Study of Chinese Society and the Limit

Since positivist scientific concept has controlled the study of dominant sociology and been regarded as the only reliable type of knowledge,the quality study is driven to the verge.As one of the quality studies,narration is not just a literary method or expression of feelings but a fundamental cognition as logic-scientific discourse and is significant to enrich sociological imagination.Narration occupies a unique place in the study of Chinese society,which is determined by the flexible,progressive and obscure social life.The success of narration is determined by the author's consciousness of problems,complexity of materials and skill of telling stories.The method is in accordance with objects of study so we should choose appropriate methods for problems instead of overthrowing the myth of statistical sociology by "narrative's moment" and overcome the so-called "plague of methodology" by Weber.