Theory vs. IdeologyTheory vs. Ideology

Certainty of answers– Certainty of answers– Type of knowledge system differs

T f ti diff– Type of assumptions differ– Use of normative statements differ

f id diff– Use of evidence differs– Demand for logical consistency differs– Transparency differs

Theory vs. Ideology

• Theory • Ideology

Theory vs. Ideology

• Theory – Conditional – Uncertainty

• Ideology– Absolute – FixedUncertainty

– Expanding – Rigorously tested

Fixed – Avoids tests – Partial g y

– Empirical evidence – Neutral

– Contradictory – Circular

– Logical

Theory vs. Ideology Example - Divorce

• Theory • Ideology• Theory– Family are strongest

when they have

• Ideology– Society is facing a moral

decay leading to divorce, yresources (income, education, housing, maturity respect etc )

y g ,women working outside the home, and loss of the “traditional family”maturity, respect etc.)

and low stress (constant employment, happy

traditional family

marriage, good health, etc).

Parts of a Theory1) Assumptions

• Assumptions

Parts of a Theory2) Concepts

• Theoretical concept• Theoretical concept– Symbol– Definition– Jargon

• Level of abstraction

Parts of a Theory2) Concepts

• Single vs. concept clusters– Concept clustersConcept clusters

• Simple vs complex concepts• Simple vs. complex concepts– Concept classification– Ideal typeIdeal type– Typology

• Scope

Parts of a Theory2) Concepts

Parts of a Theory2) Concepts

Parts of a Theory3) Relationships

• Kinds of relationships• Kinds of relationships– Positive– NegativeNegative– Interaction effect– Contingent relationshipg p

• Propositions• Hypothesis

Parts of a Theory4) Units of Analysis

• Individual• Individual• Group

O i ti• Organization• Region• Country

Aspects of Theory1) Direction of Theorizing

Deductive InductiveDeductive Inductive

Aspects of Theory2) Level of Analysis

Mi l l th• Micro-level theory• Macro-level theory• Meso-level theory

Aspects of Theory3) Focus of Theory

S b t ti th• Substantive theory

• Formal theory

Aspects of Theory4) Forms of Explanation

• Theoretical explanation• Theoretical explanation

P di ti• Prediction

Aspects of Theory4) Forms of Explanation

• Causal explanation• Causal explanation– Temporal order– AssociationAssociation– Eliminating alternatives– Specifying the mechanism in a causal relationshipp y g p

• Causal mechanism

– Outlining the causal chain

Diagrams of Causal

Positive relationship

RelationshipsPositive relationship

Positive and negative relationship

Positive path relationship

Diagrams of Causal RelationshipsDiagrams of Causal Relationships

C l l ti hiComplex relationships

Aspects of Theory4) Forms of Explanation

• Structural• Structural explanation– SequentialSequential

theory– Network theory– Functional

theory