ELEMENTS OF SCIENTIFIC THEORY

ELEMENT 1 : 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 of
these 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

CONCEPTS
E = MC
Mountain
River

Mt Everest
Ganga
Forest/Nagarahole

CONCEPTS

Concepts helps in visualising a social phenomena

It guides us say some

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

CONCEPTS

ELEMENT 2

Variables

VARIABLES

Label phenomena
i.e., concepts denoting
phenomena

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

VARIABLES
Size
Rose
colour

Cat

Weight
Colour

Number
Stars Distance
Brightness

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!

ELEMENT 3

Theoretical Statements and Formats

THEORETICAL STATEMENTS

Concepts of theory
must be
interconnected;
such connections
constitute
theoretical
statements

They provide an
interpretation of
how and why
events should be
connected

When these
theoretical
statements are
grouped together,
they constitute a
theoretical format

SCHEMES FOR GENERATING TSF

Metatheoretical

Analytical

Propositional

Modelling

ELEMENTS OF THEORY

Definitions

Concepts

Statements

Formats

THEORETICAL SCHEMES

In sociology, these schemes are considered

antagonistic

What is the best way to develop theory?

Let us consider each of them

META-THEORETICAL SCHEMES

Meta means Cw, jgz; i zAvQAv

Z 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

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

ANALYTICAL SCHEME
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

PROPOSITIONAL SCHEME

A
proposition Group solidarity
is a
directly increases
theoretical
when there is external
statement
conflict with other
that
groups
specifies the
connection As war progressed in
1971, nationalism in
between
India increased
two or more
variables

MODELING SCHEMES
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