elements of scientific theory

8/10/2019 Elements of Scientific Theory

1/19

ELEMENTSOFSCIENTIFICTHEORY


2/19

ELEMENT1 : CONCEPT

An important mean by which social scientists seek

to analyse social phenomena, to classify the

objects of the observed worlds, impart meaning

through explanation to these phenomena and

formulate higher level propositions on the basis ofthese observations

Concepts are of two types: abstract and concrete

Abstract concepts are not related to time and space

Concrete concepts are related to specific time and

space


3/19

CONCEPTS

E = MC

Mountain

River

Mt Everest

Ganga

Forest/Nagarahole


4/19

CONCEPTS

Concepts helps in visualising a social phenomena

It guides us say some

They are only sensitising agents, guiding us to whatto look at


5/19

CONCEPTS


6/19

ELEMENT2

Variables


7/19

VARIABLES

Label phenomena

i.e., concepts denotingphenomena

Differing in degree i.e., size, weight, velocity etc


8/19

VARIABLES

Rose Size

colour

Cat Weight

Colour

Stars Number

Distance

Brightness


9/19

VARIABLES

Sociologists prefer concepts that can be translated

in to variables that is, in to states that vary

To understand events requires that we visualise

how variation in one phenomenon is related to

variation in another

Some others are more interested in whether or not

concepts sensitise and alert investigators to

important processes; not everything measurable is

important!


10/19

ELEMENT3

Theoretical Statements and Formats


11/19

THEORETICALSTATEMENTS

Concepts of theorymust be

interconnected;such connections

constitutetheoreticalstatements

They provide aninterpretation of

how and whyevents should be

connected

When thesetheoretical

statements aregrouped together,they constitute atheoretical format


12/19

SCHEMESFORGENERATINGTSF

Meta-

theoretical

Analytical

Propositional Modelling


13/19

ELEMENTSOFTHEORY

Definitions Concepts Statements Formats


14/19

THEORETICALSCHEMES

In sociology, these schemes are considered

antagonistic

What is the best way to develop theory?

Let us consider each of them


15/19

META-THEORETICALSCHEMES

Meta means Cw, jgz; i zAvQAvZ Uzz

Meta-theoretical schemes are not theories by

themselves but they explain basic issues that a

theory must explain

In many sociological circles, meta-theory is

considered an essential prerequisite to adequate

theory building


16/19

META-THEORIES

What is the basic nature of human activity about

which we must develop theory? For example, what

is the basic nature of human beings? What is the

fundamental nature of society?

What is the appropriate way to develop theory and

what kind of theory is possible? Can we build highly

abstract theories as in physics or just have general

concepts?

E = MC

Family, politics, economy, religion etc

Most sociology theorising involves these

philosophical questions


17/19

ANALYTICALSCHEME

Concepts organised in to a classification scheme

that denotes key properties and interrelations

among these properties in the social universe

Concepts of the scheme cuts the universe; then,

the ordering of concepts gives the social world a

sense of order

Analytical schemes assume timeless and universal

processes in social universe

Sensitising schemes are explanations i.e., simply

an interpretation of events by seeing them as an

example


18/19

PROPOSITIONALSCHEME

Group solidaritydirectly increaseswhen there is externalconflict with othergroups

As war progressed in1971, nationalism inIndia increased

Aproposition

is a

theoreticalstatement

thatspecifies the

connectionbetween

two or morevariables


19/19

MODELINGSCHEMES

Models are visual representations

Picture of social events

Mathematical equations are models which use

neutral language a= b + c

Analytical models and causal models are

constructed by sociologists

elements of scientific theory

Documents