Abstract
In this article, I argue that practice theory should be mainly conceived as a theoretical orientation towards the study of the social where the methodological element remains central. Practice theory, therefore, should be conceived as the pragmatic effort to re-specify the study and re-presentation of social phenomena in terms of networks, assemblages and textures of mediated practices. In arguing for the value of practice theory as an inseparable package of theory, method and vocabulary, I articulate four strategies that can be used to conduct practice-based studies. These are the analysis of the concerted accomplishment of orderly scenes of action; the examination of how scenes of action have been historical constituted; the study of the development and disappearance of individual practices; and the inquiry into the co-evolution, conflict and interference of two or more practices. I argue that these strategies, which build on the different traditions, which fall under the umbrella term of practice-based approaches, provide different affordances and allow practice theory to present a view of the social that is richer, thicker and more convincing than that of competing paradigms. I conclude by noting that several open issues still stand in the way of the development of practice theory as a package of theory, method and vocabulary. These should constitute the tropic of future research and debate.
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Notes
- 1.
As early as 1984, Sherry Ortner wrote about the ‘growing interest’ for the concept of practice and suggested that this interest had been ongoing for ‘several years’ (Ortner 1984, p. 144).
- 2.
The expression ‘deux-ex-machina’ describes the theatrical trick introduced in Greek times, whereby an actor dressed as a god was lowered onto the stage so that it could solve complicated plots that the author could not bring to a satisfactory resolution.
- 3.
Texts can take different forms, of which writing is only one.
- 4.
You can substitute the term in the square brackets with any object in social and human analysis; for example, practice, mind or culture.
- 5.
Reference is made to Hermann Hesse’s famous novel, Das Glasperlenspiel (Hesse 1943).
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Acknowledgements
I thank Maja Korica, Pedro Monteiro and Emmanouil Gkeredakis for their perceptive feedback and valuable suggestions on previous versions of this manuscript.
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Nicolini, D. (2017). Practice Theory as a Package of Theory, Method and Vocabulary: Affordances and Limitations. In: Jonas, M., Littig, B., Wroblewski, A. (eds) Methodological Reflections on Practice Oriented Theories. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52897-7_2
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