Summary
The transition from research question to theory is a crucial part of producing a good empirical research paper. A good theory explains patterns in data with a well-articulated “because” clause that specifies a causal mechanism linking the independent variable to the dependent variable. A good theory also identifies the scope conditions and assumptions under which it operates. Developing your theory, articulating definitions of its concepts, and fully explicating its causal mechanism are key components of this process; these are critical for later stages. This is part of why the theory is such an important part of empirical research: without a carefully-thought-out theory, empirical research doesn’t make much sense.
Articles
Web Extra: Why Theorizing by Induction is Problematic for Hypothesis Testing
Common Sense as a Source of Theory
Vocab Flashcards
[qdeck random=”true”]
[q] Part of a theory: claims or beliefs about how the world operate
[a] assumption
[q] Part of a theory: the specific chain of events that leads from the independent variable to the dependent variable
[a] causal mechanism
[q] abstract term for underlying phenomena
[a] concept
[q] Form of graphic organizer emphasizing nonlinear and multiple connections between concepts
[a] concept web
[q] Researcher derives hypotheses from generalized analysis outside the context of any specific case
[a] deductive theorizing
[q] Outcome variable
[a] dependent variable
[q] Researcher identifies potential explanations from one or a few cases, then generalizes to other cases
[a] deductive theorizing
[q] Cause or input variable
[a] independent variable
[q] Beliefs about the nature of being: in social sciences, how the world is constituted
[a] ontology
[q] Part of a theory: defines the domain of the theory or any other restrictions or boundaries on what cases the theory should be expected to explain
[a] scope condition
[q] A reasoned speculation of the answer to a research question, usually phrased in terms of concepts; includes the expectation, a causal mechanism, assumptions, and scope conditions
[a] theory
[q] Graphical organizer used to show overlap between sets
[a] Venn diagram
[q] Variables that we believe influence the DV along with our IV(s) of interest; must be accounted for in any qualitative or quantitative analysis to obtain accurate results
[a] control variables
[q] Pair of states or other actors (used as a unit of analysis)
[a] dyad
[q] The item that constitutes one observation in a quantitative study: decision, individual opinion, country, dyad, state-year, etc.
[a] unit of analysis
[q] Spatial and temporal scope of a theory or study
[a] domain
[/qdeck]
Review Quiz
[qwiz random=”true” random_mc=”true”]
[q] Theories do not contain ______.
[c]IGluZGlj YXRvcnM=[Qq]
[c]IGNhdXNhbCBtZWNoYW5pc21z[Qq]
[c]IGNvbmNlcHRz[Qq]
[c]IGFzc3VtcHRpb25z[Qq]
[q] _____ identify the theory’s _____.
[c]IGNvbmNlcHRzL2Fzc3VtcHRpb25z[Qq]
[c]IHNjb3BlIGNvbmRp dGlvbnMvZG9tYWlu[Qq]
[c]IGFzc3VtcHRpb25zL2NvbmNlcHRz[Qq]
[c]IHNjb3BlIGNvbmRpdGlvbnMvY2F1c2FsIG1lY2hhbmlzbXM=[Qq]
[q random_mc=”false”] In ______, theory development happens before _______.
[c]IGluZHVjdGl2ZSB0aGVvcnkvZGF0YSBjb2xsZWN0aW9u[Qq]
[c]IGRlZHVjdGl2ZSB0aGVvcnkvc3RyYXRpZmljYXRpb24=[Qq]
[c]IGRlZHVjdGl2ZSB0aGVvcml6aW 5nL2RhdGEgY29sbGVjdGlvbg==[Qq]
[c]IG5vbmUgb2YgdGhlIGFib3Zl[Qq]
[q] ____ are abstract; ____ are concrete.
[c]IGNvbmNlcHRzL2 luZGljYXRvcnM=[Qq]
[c]IGluZGljYXRvcnMvY29uY2VwdHM=[Qq]
[c]IGh5cG90aGVzZXMvdGhlb3JpZXM=[Qq]
[c]IGNvbmNlcHRzL3RoZW9yaWVz[Qq]
[q] Which of the following would not typically be a level of analysis in political science?
[c]IGluZGl2aWR1YWw=[Qq]
[c]IHN0YXRl[Qq]
[c]IGR5YWQ=[Qq]
[c]IG5ldH dvcms=[Qq]
[/qwiz]