SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY: A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH What is a theory? ! - - PDF document

SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY: A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH

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What is a theory?

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What does a theory consist of? (e.g. what are the elements of a theory?) Answer: A theory is a proposition or a set of interrelated propositions that purports to explain a given social phenomenon.

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It is a systematic explanation for the observed facts and laws (or principles) that relate to a particular aspect of life, for example: juvenile delinquency, social stratification, or political revolution.

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Theories are composed of concepts and statements (e.g. propositions and axioms). CONCEPTS

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CONCEPTS are the "basic building blocks of theory." They are abstract elements representing classes of phenomena within the field of study.

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For instance, the concepts relevant to a theory of juvenile delinquency would include juvenile and delinquency.

STATEMENTS

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There are several types of statements which can comprise a theory.

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Principles or laws are one type.

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Axioms are another.

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AXIOMS are fundamental assertions which are assumed to be true, upon which the theory is grounded. PROPOSITIONS

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PROPOSITIONS are conclusions drawn about the relationships among concepts, based on the logical interrelationships among the axioms. HYPOTHESES

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HYPOTHESES are specified expectations about empirical reality, derived from propositions.

VARIABLES

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A variable is the empirical counterpart to a concept. while concepts are within the domain of theory, variables are a matter of

• bservation and measurement.

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A variable is a concept which is measured (usually but not always quantitatively). It contains two or more values or categories that can vary over time or

• ver a given sample (e.g. age).

THEORY: The Traditional Scientific Approach

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The TRADITIONAL (or classical approach) consists of three stages.

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Stage 1 is what takes place at the conceptual level. It consists of defining the concepts a writing a proposition stating a relationship between them.

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Stage 2 bridges the gap between the conceptual and empirical levels. It consists of devising ways to measure the concepts empirically.

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This stage includes writing a testable hypothesis that links the empirical measures of the two concepts.

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The hypothesis of stage 2 is identical to the proposition of stage 1 except that stage 2 is on the empirical level (relates empirical measures) while stage 1 is on the conceptual level and cannot be tested as it contains no empirical measures.

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Stage three (the final stage) consists of gathering and analyzing data in an attempt to verify the hypothesis.

THEORETICAL--EMPIRICAL TRANSLATION: EXAMPLE

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Problem (or research question): Why is there more violence in urban than rural areas?

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Concept (or theoretical variable) #1: density [Conceptional definitions need to be provided -- I' ve skipped this step.]

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Concept (or theoretical variable) #2: aggression [Conceptional definitions need to be provided -- I' ve skipped this step.]

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Proposition (or theoretical hypothesis): Aggression is positively correlated with human density.

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Operational Definitions (variables, empirical variables, or empirical indicators). density: is measured by the number of people per square kilometre as indicated by the Canada Census. aggression: number of assaults as indicated by police records.

Hypothesis (empirical hypothesis, or empirical expectation): The greater the number of people per square kilometre, the greater the number of assaults.