Structuration Theory by Giddens 
• Anthony Giddens suggests integration of agency (≈ action) and structure under the theory of structuration. 
• Giddens says that “Every research investigation in the social sciences --- is involved in relating action to structure… there is no sense in which structure ‘determines’ action or vice versa” (1984:219).  Figure 1: Anthony Giddens 
• According to structuration theory, the study of social sciences is the study of “social practices ordered across time and space” (1984: 2). 
• Here, “social practices” means the relationship between agency and structure. 
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• For him, activities are not produced by consciousness. 
• It is rather through practices that both consciousness and structure are produced. 
• Giddens is interested in practical consciousness and it is more important in structuration theory. 
• Practical consciousness involves actions that the actors take for granted, without being able to express in words what they are doing. 
• When we focus on practical consciousness, we can transit our attention from actor (agent) to agency: The things that actors actually do. 
• With the concept of agency, people became an active (not passive) character. They can make a decision, or they are different with each other. 
• People (actors) are active. But there are also constraints. 
• Giddens is interested in the fact that actions often end up being different from what was intended. He called it “unintended consequences.”