This work investigates how social research methods actively participate in the construction and transformation of the social world they aim to study. Celia Lury, a prominent sociologist, argues that methods are not merely neutral tools for observation but are performative agents that shape social reality. By examining the intersection of social theory and empirical practice, the author provides a framework for understanding how the act of measurement and data collection influences the phenomena under investigation.

Experts in sociology and methodology identify this text as a significant contribution to the field of social theory. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for advanced students and researchers interested in the philosophy of social science.