PSYC 311 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Graphical Model, Symbolic Interactionism, Sociobiology
7 Sep 2018
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Chapter 2 theory, models and research questions. Theory/middle-range theory: logical idea about how particular corer of the world works. Theory: reasoned and precise speculation about the answer to a research question, including a statement about why the proposed answer is correct (theory may not be necessarily true) Theory = practical because provides insight on how to change the world. Theory helps us identify key variables that we should measure or observe. Theory proposes causal process/mechanism that produces an outcome of interest - many causes can be involved though, so it means that theories are probabilistic (they predict how things are likely to turn out on avg) Cross-sectional variation = variation across individuals, organizations or places at same point in time. Good theories should generate hypotheses predictions of what will happen if our theory"s correct. Theories tend to focus on modifiable variables (can have its value changed, ex. disorder); in contrast, nonmodifiable variables (has fixed value once created ex temperature)
