Exam 3 (Unit 1)

Question 1

What are the two models of theory?

Answer 1

Scientific model - Based on the hypo deductive scientific method; theory is a conceptual explanation of a phenomenon)

Practical Model - Based on the alternative paradigm; theory is sophisticated normative discourse about a practice.

Question 2

What are the 2 basic elements of theory?

Answer 2

Concept - Grouping things and events into categories labeling the categories

Explanation - Answering the question.

Question 3

What are theories as Abstractions?

Answer 3

Partial, leave things out, focus on certain aspects of a process.

Question 4

What are theories as constructions?

Answer 4

Created by somebody, reflects a particular way of looking at the facts.

Question 5

What are the 5 major concepts of the traditional scientific theory?

Answer 5

1. Hypothesis
2. Operationalism
3. Validity
4. Reliability
5. Prediction

Question 6

What do Alternative paradigm scholars question?

Answer 6

• That reality has a singular static structure to be discovered and represented by theory
• Human behavior can be broken down into a set of variables that are determined by causal forces.

Question 7

Normative discourse

Answer 7

“Ought to” its someone that knows about a particular practice that tells you how something ought to be.

Question 8

What are the three principles of practical theory?

Answer 8

Practical metadiscourse
Theoretical Metadiscourse
Metamodel

Question 9

What does “Constitutive Metamodel mean”?

Answer 9

Theories of communication constitute the reality of communication in different ways.

• This principle is based on a constitutive model of comm, but it refers to the metamodel only.