Have Schemas Been Good To Think With?*

Schemas are one of the most popular explanatory concepts in cultural sociology and increasingly used more broadly. In this article, we ask question: have schemas been good to think with? We answer question by analyzing ontological, epistemic, methodological bases schemas, including conceptualizations, claims, assumptions, methods that underpin use sociological inquiry. show sociologists developed two distinct, contradictory, often conflated perspectives on what refer as culturalist cognitivist perspectives. suggest acquired a polysemic character sociology, they become (more narrow consequently scientifically legitimate) proxy for Culture, these features (paradoxically) facilitated popularity within discipline. Sociologists recently begun make necessary advancements turn into useful concept, through both analytical improvements (by distinguishing from public culture other forms nondeclarative personal culture), innovations (for better deriving survey data, texts, experiments). Yet, some challenges remain, value remains promissory. conclude offering guidelines making specific measured claims about research.