chapter 3 Flashcards
theory
an abstract system of concepts and their relationships that help us to understand a phenomenon
concepts
labels for the most important elements in a theory
nominal concepts
concepts that are not directly observable
real concepts
concepts that are directly observable
relationships
the ways in which the concepts of a theory relate to one another
positive/empirical approach
an approach assuming the existence of objective reality and value-neutral research
control
direction over the important concepts in a theory
interpretive approach
an approach viewing truth as subjective and stressing the participation of the researcher in the research process
critical approach
an approach stressing the researcher’s responsibility to change the inequities in the status quo
ontology
the study of what it means to be human, which shapes the background understanding for theorizing about human connection
epistemology
the nature, scope, and limits of human knowledge
axiology
the place that values/ethics take in theory and research
covering law approach
a guideline for creating theory suggesting that theories conform to a general law that is universal and invariant
cause
an antecedent condition that determines an effect
effect
a condition that inevitably follows a causative condition
hypotheses
testable predictions of relationships between concepts that follow the general predictions made by a theory
rules approach
a guideline for creating theory that builds human choice into explanations
movements
activities based on stimulus-response
actions
activities based on intentional choice responses
habitual rules
nonnegotiable rules that are usually created by an authority figure
parametric rules
rules that are set by an authority figure but are subject to some negotiation
tactical rules
unstated rules used to achieve a personal or interpersonal goal
systems approach
a guideline for creating theory that acknowledges human choice and the constraints of the systems involved
wholeness
a fundamental property of systems theory stating that systems are more than the sum of their individual parts
interdependence
a property of systems theory stating that the elements of a system affect one another
hierarchy
a property of systems theory stating that systems consist of multiple levels
subsystems
smaller systems that are embedded in larger ones
suprasystems
larger systems that hold smaller ones within them
boundaries
a property of systems theory stating that systems construct structures specifying their outer limits
openness
the acknowledgment that within all human systems the boundaries are permeable
calibration
a property of systems theory stating that systems periodically check the scale of allowable behaviors and reset the system
feedback
a subprocess of calibration; information allowing for change in the system
morphogenic
a process that occurs when a system recalibrates (or changes)
homeostatic
a term for a stable system that isn’t changing
equifinality
a property of systems theory stating that systems can achieve the same goals through different means
scope
a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the breadth of communication behaviors covered in the theory
logical consistency
a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the internal logic in the theoretical statements
parsimony
a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the simplicity of the explanation provided by the theory
utility
a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the theory’s usefulness or practical value
testability
a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to our ability to test the accuracy of a theory’s claims
heurism
a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the amount of research and new thinking stimulated by the theory
test of time
a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the theory’s durability over time
scientific method
the traditional method for doing research involving controlled observations and analysis to test the principles of a theory
deductive logic
moving from the general (the theory) to the specific (the observations)
inductive logic
moving from the specific (the observations) to the general (the theory)
operationalize
making an abstract idea measurable and observable
observations
focused examination within a context of interest; may be guided by hypotheses or research questions
data
the raw materials collected by the researcher to answer the questions posed in the research or to test a hypothesis
code
the truth value of an observation
pure research
research to generate knowledge
applied research
research to solve a problem or create a policy
reliability
the stability and predictability of an observation
validity
the truth value of an observation
