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SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 THEORY is a set of ideas or propositions designed to:

1. EXPLAIN = Why? For what reason?

2. DESCRIBE = What is happening? Portray the real world as it is

3. PREDICT = What will happen? if this, then what?

4. UNDERSTAND = Comprehend what is happening; makes sense

5. ORGANIZE = Way of thinking about, provide a framework, a perspective, give direction and order to thinking

Theories must:

1. Contain carefully and clearly defined concepts, all basic terms used in theory must be exactly defined

2. Be scientifically testable – good theories should suggest hypotheses for research – these research studies could support or refute the theory

3. Be stated as briefly as possible – in very few words, unfortunately sociological theories rarely are short

4. Be internally consistent – all the parts of the theory should make sense

NOTE: Later on we’ll see that some theories don’t meet any of these four items. Especially Karl Marx

ISSUES IN THEORY:

SUBJECT MATTER

Macrosociology: overall characteristics of society

Microsociology: detailed study of daily human interaction

LEVEL OF DETAIL

Grand Theory: one theory to explain all parts of society, everything, crime, religion, class, etc.

Middle-Range Theory: explains one aspect of society only, such as crime, religion, family life, social class, suicide, etc.

BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

Is human behavior basically determined behavior, caused by

something?

Is human behavior the result of human creativity, does it emerge in the course of human interaction?