chapter 3

Question 1

theory

Answer 1

an abstract system of concepts and their relationships that help us to understand a phenomenon

Question 2

concepts

Answer 2

labels for the most important elements in a theory

Question 3

nominal concepts

Answer 3

concepts that are not directly observable

Question 4

real concepts

Answer 4

concepts that are directly observable

Question 5

relationships

Answer 5

the ways in which the concepts of a theory relate to one another

Question 6

positive/empirical approach

Answer 6

an approach assuming the existence of objective reality and value-neutral research

Question 7

control

Answer 7

direction over the important concepts in a theory

Question 8

interpretive approach

Answer 8

an approach viewing truth as subjective and stressing the participation of the researcher in the research process

Question 9

critical approach

Answer 9

an approach stressing the researcher’s responsibility to change the inequities in the status quo

Question 10

ontology

Answer 10

the study of what it means to be human, which shapes the background understanding for theorizing about human connection

Question 11

epistemology

Answer 11

the nature, scope, and limits of human knowledge

Question 12

axiology

Answer 12

the place that values/ethics take in theory and research

Question 13

covering law approach

Answer 13

a guideline for creating theory suggesting that theories conform to a general law that is universal and invariant

Question 14

cause

Answer 14

an antecedent condition that determines an effect

Question 15

effect

Answer 15

a condition that inevitably follows a causative condition

Question 16

hypotheses

Answer 16

testable predictions of relationships between concepts that follow the general predictions made by a theory

Question 17

rules approach

Answer 17

a guideline for creating theory that builds human choice into explanations

Question 18

movements

Answer 18

activities based on stimulus-response

Question 19

actions

Answer 19

activities based on intentional choice responses

Question 20

habitual rules

Answer 20

nonnegotiable rules that are usually created by an authority figure

Question 21

parametric rules

Answer 21

rules that are set by an authority figure but are subject to some negotiation

Question 22

tactical rules

Answer 22

unstated rules used to achieve a personal or interpersonal goal

Question 23

systems approach

Answer 23

a guideline for creating theory that acknowledges human choice and the constraints of the systems involved

Question 24

wholeness

Answer 24

a fundamental property of systems theory stating that systems are more than the sum of their individual parts

Question 25

interdependence

Answer 25

a property of systems theory stating that the elements of a system affect one another

Question 26

hierarchy

Answer 26

a property of systems theory stating that systems consist of multiple levels

Question 27

subsystems

Answer 27

smaller systems that are embedded in larger ones

Question 28

suprasystems

Answer 28

larger systems that hold smaller ones within them

Question 29

boundaries

Answer 29

a property of systems theory stating that systems construct structures specifying their outer limits

Question 30

openness

Answer 30

the acknowledgment that within all human systems the boundaries are permeable

Question 31

calibration

Answer 31

a property of systems theory stating that systems periodically check the scale of allowable behaviors and reset the system

Question 32

feedback

Answer 32

a subprocess of calibration; information allowing for change in the system

Question 33

morphogenic

Answer 33

a process that occurs when a system recalibrates (or changes)

Question 34

homeostatic

Answer 34

a term for a stable system that isn’t changing

Question 35

equifinality

Answer 35

a property of systems theory stating that systems can achieve the same goals through different means

Question 36

scope

Answer 36

a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the breadth of communication behaviors covered in the theory

Question 37

logical consistency

Answer 37

a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the internal logic in the theoretical statements

Question 38

parsimony

Answer 38

a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the simplicity of the explanation provided by the theory

Question 39

utility

Answer 39

a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the theory’s usefulness or practical value

Question 40

testability

Answer 40

a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to our ability to test the accuracy of a theory’s claims

Question 41

heurism

Answer 41

a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the amount of research and new thinking stimulated by the theory

Question 42

test of time

Answer 42

a criterion for evaluating theories; refers to the theory’s durability over time

Question 43

scientific method

Answer 43

the traditional method for doing research involving controlled observations and analysis to test the principles of a theory

Question 44

deductive logic

Answer 44

moving from the general (the theory) to the specific (the observations)

Question 45

inductive logic

Answer 45

moving from the specific (the observations) to the general (the theory)

Question 46

operationalize

Answer 46

making an abstract idea measurable and observable

Question 47

observations

Answer 47

focused examination within a context of interest; may be guided by hypotheses or research questions

Question 48

data

Answer 48

the raw materials collected by the researcher to answer the questions posed in the research or to test a hypothesis

Question 49

code

Answer 49

the truth value of an observation

Question 50

pure research

Answer 50

research to generate knowledge

Question 51

applied research

Answer 51

research to solve a problem or create a policy

Question 52

reliability

Answer 52

the stability and predictability of an observation

Question 53

validity

Answer 53

the truth value of an observation