CRIM 300W Lecture : crim 300 lecture notes
20 Nov 2012
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What is a theory: creative enterprise, developing a theory depends on going beyond available evidence, distinction between metatheory and theory. Discussion about theory, how it should be studied, linkages = orienting strategies . Orienting strategies provide conceptual schemes and tell us what we should be studying, how we are to use them (prescriptive) For example: functionalism: lack of consensus of what is theory in crim. What is a theory (cont"d): working definition: model of understanding or explanation about how the world works. Set of interrelated propositions that seek to explain specific phenomenon: some authors use the word prescriptive instead of theory, another approach: Robinson (2004) chooses the term perspective : a way of looking at the world, a way of thinking about problems (p. 33) How criminologists and cj scholars define the problem. What is a theory (cont"d): another definition of theory: Unit theories: set of concepts and theoretical assertions related to each other in explaining specific phenomenon.
