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    Process of Theorizing

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    Sahar

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    Process of Theorizing

    Uploaded by

    Sahar
    2 views7 pages

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    © © All Rights Reserved

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    2 views7 pages

    Process of Theorizing

    Uploaded by

    Sahar

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 7

    Process of Theorizing

    • The process by which individuals account for (or explain and


    interpret) their physical and social environments.
    • "to theorize" roughly means what you do to produce a theory.
    • While theorizing is primarily a process, theory is the end product.
    • The two obviously belong together and complement each other.
    • “a Peircean and personal Perspective”
    • Such a process occurs within the context of a specific social setting
    (theorizing is ideologically, intellectually and historically defined) and
    defines the physical and social reality of this setting.
    • In this manner, theory represents an interpretation of reality.
    • (Kinloch,1977)
    • Foundation of theory is its paradigm or model of reality.
    This model consists of two main elements:
    1- Conceptualization of the phenomenon being explained
    2- an assumed underlying causal relationship
    • These models appear to take three forms, a) general theory which
    conceptualizes society as a functioning and integrated system(structural
    functional approach). B) theory which focuses on society as a dynamic,
    changing, conflict-ridden system based on competition and exploitation
    (conflict-radical theory) and C) theories which deal social phenomena at
    the microscopic or interpersonal level, focusing on socialization and role
    behavior
    • Theorizing is socially significant( as social phenomenon is important to
    understand in its depth)
    • Kinloch’s Process of theory construction involves:
    1- Delineation of underlying causal relationships
    2- Definition of the concepts
    3- logical relationship between the concepts implied by the theory’s
    paradigm (definition in the form of axioms or propositions)
    4- Operationalization of concepts in the form of variables and
    interpretation of logical relationship between these
    variables( formulation of a hypothesis)
    • Application of methodology for testing the relationship between the
    variables
    • Analysis of data-statistical or otherwise
    • Interpretation of the results with their significance (explanation of
    theory on the basis of these results)
    • Test- retest
    Social context of Theorizing
    • Societal Conditions (society’s changing developments and needs e.g.
    revolution in Europe)
    • Intellectual Conditions- predominant intellectual norms and modes
    of thoughts, naturalism, rationalism, Renaissance and reformation

    • Biographical Conditions- specific aspects of theorists life which


    appear to influence his/her perspective e.g individual’s socioeconomic
    status, academic training, ideological views etc.
    Theory formation
    • Underlying Paradigm (model of assumed relationship)
    • Concepts defined by the paradigm
    • Logical relationship between the concepts (nature of relationships , axioms,
    propositions, hypothesis:
    • Forms of relationship- axiomatic, propositional, deductive, inductive
    • Operationalization-( hypothesis, variables)
    • Methodology
    • Data analysis
    • Data Interpretation
    • valuation of theory- theoretical and empirical adequacy

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