4. Theory & Social Research Jin-Wan Seo, Professor Dept. of Public Administration, University of Incheon

4. Theory & Social Research Elements of Theory Theory A systematic explanation for the observations that relate to a particular aspect of life. Interrelationship between ___________ (variables) Fact A Fact B Abstraction of ____________________applicable to the reality in general S O R 1

4. Theory & Social Research Fact vs. Value Fact Value Things and phenomena justified empirically Things and phenomena which should be justified empirically Things and phenomena existed Through empirically, verifiable observation Things before justification Belief/Faith & Ideology Logical belief – good/bad, right/wrong For “Scope & methods” For “Philosophical Methods” Value-free; Fact-oriented Concerned with ___________________ All knowledges are from experience, observation, and verification. Reality is ___________________! Value-laden/metaphysics Concerned with eternal or essential nature of reality. We can not know anything simply from the fact and experiences. Reality is certain! 1

4. Theory & Social Research Variable Logical groupings of attributes. The variable gender is made up of the attributes male and female. Definitions _________________: A variable with values that are not problematical in an analysis but are taken as simply given. An independent variable is presumed to cause or determine a dependent variable. => variable by which to explain phenomena ________________: A variable assumed to depend on or be caused by another (called the independent variable). => variable to be explained Attributes: Characteristics of persons or things 1

4. Theory & Social Research Variables & Attributes Both variables and attributes represent social concepts. __________ are sets of related values or attributes 1

4. Theory & Social Research Defining facts Setting Causality  relationship between facts (_________)  Model Abstraction of Theory (__________________) Objectification of theory Fact A Fact B S(fact A) O (fact C) R (fact B) Feedback (fact D) 1

4. Theory & Social Research Three Main Elements of Research Theory Scientists begin with a theory, from which they derive testable hypothesis Operationalization To test any hypothesis, the meanings of all the variables involved in it in observational turns should be specified. How to measure the variables – ___________________ Specifying the exact operations involved in measuring a variable Observation The final step in the traditional model of science Looking at the way things are, in order to confirm the hypothesis. 1

4. Theory & Social Research Traditional Model of Science Traditional Model of Science = __________________________ From a general theoretical understanding, the researcher derives (deduces) an expectation and finally a testable hypothesis. 1

4. Theory & Social Research Deductive & Inductive Methods 1

4. Theory & Social Research 1. Deductive Theory Construction Getting Started 1st step: to pick a topic that interests you. 2nd step: to undertake an inventory of what is already known or thought about it. Constructing your theory Specify ____________. Specify the range of phenomena your theory addresses. Will your theory apply to all of human social life, will it apply only to Korean citizens, only to young people, or what? Identify and specify your major concepts and variables. Find out what is known (___________) about the relationships among those variables. Reason logically from those propositions to the specific topic you are examining. 1

4. Theory & Social Research 2. Inductive Theory Construction Getting Started 1st step: to observe aspects of social life 2nd step: to seek to discover __________ that may point to relatively universal principles. Field research Field research is frequently used to develop theories through observation. In a long and rich tradition, anthropologists have used his method to good advantage. 1

4. Theory & Social Research Links between Theory & Research In the __________ model, research is used to test theories. In the ________ model, theories are developed from the analysis of research data. 1