Chapter 2 Theories

Question 1

proposition

Answer 1

universal statement (causal relations between two or more concepts)

Question 2

theory scheme

Answer 2

type of theory tool in which propositions, conditions, hypotheses and observations are written out as coherent set of verbal statements

Question 3

condition

Answer 3

assumption about the specific setting which relates proposition to observations and hypotheses

Question 4

syllogism

Answer 4

observation can be logically deduced from the proposition and the condition

Question 5

hypothesis

Answer 5

testable prediction, derived from theory( deduce hypothesis from the same proposition and then study if its in line with observations- oppositie of phenomena- starts with proposition and then arrives a new Hypothesis (prediction) of what will happen under specific conditons)

Question 6

modus tollens

Answer 6

if it is hypothesized that A lead to B, and it is observed that B is not true,then A cannot be true

Question 7

theory

Answer 7

coherent set of propositions and assumptions about conditions which can explain certain phenomena and which generate hypotheses (predictions) on other ( yet unobserved and hypothetical) phenomena

Question 8

What are useful sociological theories (2)

Answer 8

Truth (emperical succes) and Information (information content, theoretical precision/scope)

Question 9

deeper explenation

Answer 9

type of explenation in which one proposition is explained by another, more genereal proposition

Question 10

scope condition

Answer 10

set of conditions to which a certain theory is applicable

Question 11

concepts

Answer 11

hypothetical abstraction that contains certain categories (theoretical variable)

Question 12

abstractions

Answer 12

refer to a number of specific instances (food=all sort things we can eat)

Question 13

hypothetical

Answer 13

mental constructs (ideas about reality)

Question 14

categories

Answer 14

ex; food concept distinguishes from non-food

Question 15

typology

Answer 15

a way of classifying reality, often done by combining concepts (ex= liberal, conservative, soc-dem, not theory!)

Question 16

causality

Answer 16

idea that ind. var (x) has effect on dep var (Y)

Question 17

independent variable

Answer 17

variable which has an effect on another variable

Question 18

dependent variable

Answer 18

variable which is affected by another variable

Question 19

criterion causality (3)

Answer 19

1) association 2) time order 3) non-spuriousness

Question 20

theory tool

Answer 20

tool which helps systematically present a theory ( theory scheme, conceptual model and formal model)

Question 21

conceptual model (path model/causal figure)

Answer 21

type of theory tool in which the causal relationships between concepts are visualized (theory scheme cannot handle many relationships at the same time)

Question 22

direct causal relationship

Answer 22

a relationship between two variables x and y such that changes in x have a direct effect on changes in y (easily handled with theory scheme)

Question 23

mediator

Answer 23

a variable Z that mediates the relationship between variables X and Y, such that changes in x impact changes in Z, which then results in changes in Y

Question 24

complete mediation

Answer 24

the impact of x on y is completely accounted for by a third variable z, such that ther is no way that x affects Y than via z

Question 25

partial mediation

Answer 25

the impact of x on y is partially accounted for by z , such that x affects y via z, but also via other variables

Question 26

bidirectional (feedback)

Answer 26

relation between x and y , such that changes in x result in changes in y, and changes in y result in changes in x

Question 27

moderation effect (interaction effect)

Answer 27

the relationship between x and y is dependent on variable Z

Question 28

formal model

Answer 28

type of theory tool in which theories are expressed in formalized language ( exponential, logarithmic or powerfunction and more complex relationships between concepts)