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Pioneers and Early Beginnings

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British Sociology

Part of the book series: Sociology Transformed ((SOTR))

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Abstract

This chapter briefly reviews the origins of British sociology in the theoretical and statistical discussions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It considers the influence of the ‘classical’ sociologies of Patrick Geddes and Leonard Hobhouse and assesses their role in the establishment of professional sociology. The formation of the first department of sociology at the London School of Economics is discussed, and the origins of other departments of social studies and social science are summarised. The chapter concludes with an overview of the main studies undertaken between 1920 and 1940.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A detailed discussion of the development of British social theory can be found in J. Scott (2018). Important aspects of the institutional history of sociology are discussed by Chris Renwick (2012).

  2. 2.

    The Edinburgh School of Sociology is discussed in J. Scott (2007). The Sociological Society and the role of Victor Branford are discussed in Scott and Bromley (2012, 2013) and Scott and Husbands (2007).

  3. 3.

    See the excellent account of this period in B. Rocquin, British Sociologists and French Sociologues in the Interwar Years. The Battle for Society. London, Palgrave Macmillan, 2019.

  4. 4.

    The department had links with King’s College, where Urwick held a chair in economics and where Lionel Tayler taught on social psychology and ‘hygiene’ in its School of Home Training and Domestic Science.

  5. 5.

    An account of some of these departments and lecture courses can be found in Husbands (2014, 2019b). See also (Fincham 1975: chs 2 & 3; Bulmer 1985a).

  6. 6.

    Mass-Observation is discussed in Calder (1985), Hinton (2013), and Hall (2015).

  7. 7.

    All sources are listed here and cited in the text by their date of first publication. Where a second date is shown this refers to the later edition, reprint, or translation consulted. Unless otherwise stated, place of publication is London.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Essex University, Colchester, UK

    John Scott

  2. Exeter University, Exeter, UK

    John Scott

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Scott, J. (2020). Pioneers and Early Beginnings. In: British Sociology . Sociology Transformed. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38371-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38371-8_1

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