1. The art of concept formation

2. As we are … prisoners of the words we pick, we had better pick them well
Giovanni Sartori

3. What is a concept? Definition:
„‚the basic unit of thinking‘, such that ‚we have a concept of A (or of A-ness) when we are able to distinguish A from whatever is not A‘“ (Mair 2009: 179)
Concepts consist of (Gerring 1999: 357-8)
Extension (referents, denotation): cases to be defined
Intension (definition, connotation): attributes defining these cases
Label

4. What do we need concepts for?
Link the real world with the world of language
Help us to communicate
Help us categorise and to understand the world around us
Help us to see whether like is compared with like
Defining one‘ s concepts is therefore an essential part of the research process

5. Concepts and the Research Process
Where is concept formation situated?
At at the very beginning (especially in quantitative studies)
First „what is?“ or „of what is this an instance?“ before „how much?“
But: concept formation is a constant process
especially In qualitative research (with aim to sharpen concepts) (retroduction)
Within the research community in general: concepts are constantly defined and redefined

6. Concepts are … (Hoover/Donovan 2008: 15)
… tentative (potentially contested)
… based on agreement
„… useful only to the degree that they capture or isolate some signficant and definable item in reality“

7. What are the problems of non- or ill-defined concepts?
In general
Bad labelling (label already in use, ambiguous, offensive etc.)
Extension too wide (concept not meaningful any more, does not distinguish, remains ambiguous)
Definition to narrow (limit ourselves in what we can talk about, investigate)
No clear definition (ambiguity)

8. Common mistakes with concept formation in term papers
No concept definition at all. No debate about what this study is about
Many concept definitions without priority. „There are many definitions to be found, so we cannot really define this“
One concept definition, yet not used. Quoting some (lexicon) definition in your „theory“ section, but then disregard what it says

9. Sartori‘s ladder of abstraction
Levels of Abstraction
Logical Properties of Concept
Example 1
Example 2
High-Level Categories
Max. extension, min. intension
Regime
Political Party
Medium-Level Categories
Extension and intension in balance
Liberal Democracy
Mass Party
Low-Level Categories
Minimal extension, maximal extension
Westminster (majoritarian) Democracy
„Business firm model“-party

10. (Sartori‘s) Rules of Concept Formation
Analyse cases only as part of a wider class of cases (what is this a case of?)
Compare only within classes (of cases)
If cases do not share one class
→ move up the ladder of abstraction
If results are meaningles/too general
→ move down the ladder of abstraction
Balloon image (Mair)
For detailed look: heavy basket (full of properties)
for overview: throw properties out of the basket

11. Group Work Discuss the concepts of Americanization „queuing“ Football
Scottish identity
How would you define the concept ? (intension)
What different forms/types /cases exist ? (extension)
What is the concept part of? (Move up the ladder of abstraction)
What can it be compared with (members of the same class)