Social constructionism

Anna Traianou and Martyn Hammersley

Chapter 43 in Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Research Methods in the Social Sciences, 2026, pp 309-314 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: ‘Social constructionism’ and its near-synonym ‘social constructivism’ are terms that have multiple meanings. However, their core element is that social phenomena, and perhaps all phenomena, are a product of human social activity. Furthermore, it is claimed that different forms of activity, relying on different assumptions, can produce quite different ‘realities’ or ‘worlds’. Given this, social constructionists argue that the focus of social inquiry must be on how phenomena are constituted, rather than on seeking to identify causal relationships amongst them. In this entry, the main sources of these ideas are discussed, in psychology, sociology, and philosophy. The theoretical and methodological implications of social constructionism for conventional social science practice are also examined, from moderate to more radical versions. Finally, some criticisms of this influential set of ideas are outlined.

Keywords: Social Constructionism; Social Constructivism; Phenomenology; Thomas Kuhn; Post-structuralism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781803921297
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