Leo Lowenthal, "On Sociology of Literature" (1948)

Lowenthal gives four models of issues for investigation, and four metholodies for use in them. Of note: the sociology being done here is large scale: the writer on one side, and the society in general (or its alternate identities, such as "the reading public") on the other. There is essentially nothing in this particular essay about the social formations of small groups of readers or writers--this is perhaps suitable for literature in modern market conditions, but it is inapplicable to premodern situations.

Also: while most of this is quite smart, there is one hopelessly naive proposal, to "revive" authors by means of questionnaires, the standardization of which will apparently allow clear answers to what authors thought on any number of social topics, even though one is still just reading the texts and apparently making things scientific by having boxes to check.