Transcript OAD313 Computer Applications in Business II

SYA 3010 Sociological
Theory:
Introduction to Theory
Development
and
Introduction to Sociological
Paradigms
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
1
Theory and Paradigm
As has been mentioned, this theory
course and many of the lectures and
reading will seem very abstract and
difficult to follow as compared to
other courses. However, by reading
and reviewing several times and
making notations in your own words
may be helpful to you.
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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ICA: Theory and Paradigm
Worksheet
Define common sense.
Give two examples
Define scientific inquiry.
Define paradigm.
Give an example.
Define assumption (as it relates to
paradigm).
Define theory.© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Friday, April 8, 2016
Bolender
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ICA: Theory and Paradigm
Worksheet
Divide into groups of 2-3
Share definitions and examples
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Scientific Inquiry versus
Common Sense
Common Sense
The definition of common sense is:
1: the unreflective opinions of ordinary men
2: sound and prudent but often
unsophisticated judgement (Mish 1991:266)
Common sense is a valuable tool for our
everyday lives -- we would not want to
totally demean its value
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Scientific Inquiry versus
Common Sense
Scientific Inquiry
The definition for scientific inquiry is:
A deliberate, focused, systematic, and logical
means of explaining an observable event in
one’s world (Bolender 1993:11)
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Scientific Inquiry versus
Common Sense
The scientific method provides a more
thorough, thoughtful explanation of events
than most common sense answers could give.
The scientific method may conclude that it
has not found a good answer to the purpose
of the event, however that is generally still a
more thorough answer than most common
sense answers provide (Bolender 1993:1112).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Scientific Inquiry versus
Common Sense
Most people are constantly in the process of
making informal observations about their
world. Attempts are made to describe,
explain, predict, and control daily events
(Bunker, Pearlson, and Schulz 1975).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Scientific Inquiry versus
Common Sense
Perception Screening Devices
Common Sense
The layperson uses common sense to deal
with everyday observations (Selltiz,
Wrightsman, and Cook 1976). Laypeople use
subjective ideas (opinions) to determine if an
observation is reliable (Bunker, Pearlson, and
Schulz 1975).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Scientific Inquiry versus
Common Sense
Scientific Inquiry
Evidence (objective facts) is used in scientific
inquiry to indicate if an idea is supportable
(Bunker, Pearlson, and Schulz 1975).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Scientific Inquiry versus
Common Sense
Real World Examples
Freshman Seminar (Bolender
1994)
Reducing Crime in Major Cities
(Moffit 1996)
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Scientific Inquiry versus
Common Sense
The sociologist as a
destroyer of myths.
Norbert Elias ([1970] 1978:50)
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Scientific Inquiry versus
Common Sense
Scientific inquiry-How will this help me
in real life?
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Paradigm
The definition of a paradigm is:
Paradigms. . . are taken-for-granted ideas
and assumptions not debated by members of
a scientific discipline (Denisoff, Callahan, and
Levine 1974).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
When paradigms change, the
world itself changes with them.
Led by a new paradigm,
scientists adapt new instruments
and look in new places.
Thomas Samuel Kuhn (1970:110?)
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Does one’s paradigm make any
difference in the real world?
You bet it does!
“Why Doctors Are Not Curing
Ulcers”
Brian O’Reilly (1997:100-112)
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Assumption
The definition of assumption is:
. . . a preconception or “given.” . . . it refers
to something that is taken for granted
(Perdue 1986:5-6).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
For example: Plato’s Six Basic Assumptions of
Society (he was a sociologist before the discipline
officially existed)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Man is an organism.
Organisms tend toward survival.
Man survives in groups.
Man is a social animal.
Man lives in an ordered society.
The order of society is knowable.
(Rose 1967 and Carroll 1972 in Denisoff, Callahan,
and Levine 1974:4-5)
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Theory
A definition of theory is:
. . . A theory is a logical deductive-inductive
system of concepts, definitions, and
propositions which states a relationship
between two or more selected aspects of
phenomena and from which testable
hypotheses can be derived (Ward 1974:39).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Theories in sociology are intended to be
descriptive, explanatory, and predictive of
phenomena of interest to the discipline and to its
individual practitioners (Ward 1974:39).
A theory is a set of concepts plus the
interrelationships that are assumed to exist among
those concepts. A theory also includes consequences
that we assume logically to follow from the
relationships proposed in the theory. These
consequences are called hypotheses (Selltiz,
Wrightsman, and Cook 1976).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Proposition
A definition of proposition:
. . . are “statements about the nature of reality”
which describe connections between phenomena or
events. “Man is an organism and must eat to survive”
is a propositional statement which can easily be put
to the test. At a higher level sociologists may say,
“Changes in the economic structure will result in
changes in the nonmaterial aspects of society.” This
statement can also be put to the test (Phillips
1971:52 in Denisoff,
Callahan,
and Levine 1974:23).
© 1998-2002
by Ronald Keith
Friday, April 8, 2016
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Concept
Theories also contain concepts, which are
created by giving names to events,
phenomena, and processes. Concepts are
merely the symbols scientists use as a
form of shorthand (Denisoff, Callahan,
and Levine 1974:23).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
“Each concept communicates to the specialist
a vast amount of experience, abstracted and
clarified for those who understand the term
(Goode and Hatt 1952:44 in Denisoff,
Callahan, and Levine 1974:23).
Example: Status is a concept which refers to an
individual’s location in society-high, low, or middle
range (Denisoff, Callahan, and Levine 1974:23).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Definition
Nominal Definition
Is a substitute for some concrete object
Sports car
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Real Definition
Is anchored in concrete or observable
phenomena and has empirical or testable
implications
The President of the United States
(Bierstedt in Denisoff, Callahan, and
Levine 1974:23-24)
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Operational Definition
Measurement theory concerns the linkage between
concepts and indicators in a study. Operational
definitions are always based on measurement
theories that assign empirical meaning to concepts. .
. The operational definition stipulates which specific
indicators (or observations) are to be assigned which
specific meanings (Selltiz, Wrightsman, and Cook
1976:40).
Example: IQ is an operational definition of intelligence
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Hypothesis
The definition of hypothesis is:
is a statement outlining the relationship
between two or more factors of events, such
as X causes Y. A hypothesis is reasoned or
deducted from a theory and seeks to make a
general statement specific (Denisoff,
Callahan, and Levine 1974: 24).
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Emile Durkheim’s Study of Suicide
Theory: Society is a closed system with each
member interrelated to all the other members
within the society. There is a phenomenon of
social integration.
Proposition: Society is an organism with
interrelated parts, therefore, the stronger the
social cohesion, the stronger the society.
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Concepts:
Social cohesion
Solidarity
Operational Definition: Suicide is an
objective measurement of social cohesion
Hypothesis: The annual suicide rate for
Catholics will be lower than Protestants
The hypothesis is a deduction of the theory
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Logic
Deductive reasoning
Use of logic and authority
Inductive reasoning
Use of empirical observation
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Deductive Reasoning
From the General
To the Particular
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Inductive Reasoning
To the General
From the Particular
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Common Sense versus
Scientific Inquiry
500 plus years ago--Why
did the uneducated man
think the earth was flat
(or hump-back)?
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
What impact did
this “paradigm”
have on mankind?
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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ICA: Theory and Paradigm
Worksheet
Go to page 7 of the worksheet
The theme: The earth is flat (or humpback)
Make an attempt to complete each
component as if you accepted this
paradigm
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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ICA: Theory and Paradigm
Worksheet
Go to page 8 of the worksheet
Paradigm
The earth is flat (or at least hump-back).
Assumptions
The world ends at the “four corners” of the
earth.
The “known” surface land mass has been
explored.
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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ICA: Theory and Paradigm
Worksheet
The edges of all the “known” surface land
mass is bordered by water.
Theories
The is flat (or at least hump-back).
The earth has “edges.”
Propositions
Man cannot travel beyond the edge of the
earth without falling off.
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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ICA: Theory and Paradigm
Worksheet
All of the surface land mass has been
explored or at least mapped.
Concepts
Four corners of the earth
Edge of the world
Definitions
Real Definition
Boundaries of the earth
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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ICA: Theory and Paradigm
Worksheet
Operational definition
The earth has only X number of nautical miles
between the western coast of Europe and the
western boundary of the earth.
Hypothesis
If a ship sails indefinitely in one direction
(west, east, south, or north), it will fall off the
edge of the earth.
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
The development of sociological theories
has been slow. Attempting to develop
scientific theories about society is very
complex. The variables are endless.
Does that make it any less of a worthy goal?
The answer is no. It just makes the task that
much more challenging.
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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Theory and Paradigm
Review
Paradigms Comparison Table
and
Paradigm and Assumption Document
Friday, April 8, 2016
© 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith
Bolender
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