Primer in Theory Construction, an A&b Classics Edition

Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1(18) For What Should Scientific Knowledge Be Useful? 2(6) Typologies 2(1) Prediction and Explanation 3(2) Sense of Understanding 5(2) Control 7(1) Theory 8(2) How Does a Concept or Statement Become Part of a Scientific Body of Knowledge? 10(2) Desirable Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge 12(5) Abstractness 12(2) Intersubjectivity (Meaning) 14(1) Intersubjectivity (Logical Rigor) 14(2) Empirical Relevance 16(1) Summary and Conclusion 17(2) The Idea 19(26) Kuhn Paradigms 20(5) Example: Freud's Theory of Personality 22(3) Paradigms 25(7) Examples: Heider's Balance Theory 26(2) Two Conceptions of Status Structures: Elitist and Pluralistic 28(4) Paradigm Variations 32(10) Examples: Variations on the Freudian Conception of Personality 32(3) Variations on Heider's Balance Theory 35(7) Identifying Paradigms 42(1) Conclusion 43(2) Concepts 45(22) Definition of Concepts 46(3) Abstract vs. Concrete Concepts 49(3) Concept Measurement 52(5) Quantification of Concepts 57(8) The Nominal Level 58(1) The Ordinal Level 59(1) The Interval Level 60(2) The Ratio Level 62(1) General Comments on Quantification 63(2) Summary and Conclusion 65(2) Statements 67(16) Existence Statements 67(2) Relational Statements 69(7) Associational Statements 70(1) Causal Statements 71(3) Deterministic and Probabilistic Statements 74(2) Levels of Abstraction 76(1) Theoretical Statements 77(1) Relation of Theoretical Statements to Theory 78(2) Relationship between Theoretical Statements and Empirical Data 80(2) Summary 82(1) Forms of Theories 83(34) The Set-of-Laws Form 83(10) Examples: The Iron Law of Oligarchy 84(1) The Laws of Operant Behavior 85(3) The Exercise of Influence in Small Groups 88(5) The Axiomatic Form 93(5) Example: The Exercise of Influence in Small Groups 94(4) The Causal Process Form 98(11) Examples: The Effect of First Impressions on Cognitions 99(1) Creation of Oligarchies 100(2) Operant Behavior, Law II 102(2) The Exercise of Influence in Small Groups 104(1) Status Incongruence and Mental Health 105(4) Evaluation of the Three Forms of Theory 109(4) Simulation or Model Building 113(3) Summary 116(1) Testing Theories 117(24) Abstract Statements and Concrete Research 117(2) Empirical Research and Confidence in Abstract Statements 119(3) Statistical Decision Procedures 122(10) Classical Statistical Inference 123(7) Should the Hypothesis Be Presented before the Data Are Examined? 130(2) Changing Confidence in Theories 132(2) Comparing Theories 134(5) Conclusion 139(2) Strategies for Developing a Scientific Body of Knowledge 141(22) Research-Then-Theory 142(4) Theory-Then-Research 146(2) Comparison of Strategies 148(6) How to Get a New Idea 154(2) Composite Approach 156(3) Research Methods 159(2) Conclusion 161(2) Conclusion 163(8) Potential for a Social Science 165(6) APPENDIX: STUDENT EXERCISES 171(6) Comments 171(1) Assignment I: Empirical Generalization and Empirical Support 172(1) Assignment II: Explanation of an Empirical Generalization 173(1) Assignment III: Testing a Theory 174(1) Assignment IV: Application of Theories to Natural Phenomena 175(2) References 177(6) Author Index 183(2) Subject Index 185