10 Theorizing
This module is concerned with the one of main tasks of research, which is the construction of good theory.
Topics
What is theory?
Qualities of a good theory
Mechanisms/process
How to theorize
The problem of causality
Inductive/Deductive/Synthetic
Perspectives on theory
Role of hypotheses
Process vs variance models
Articles
Lave, Charles A., and James G. March. 1993(1975). An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences. New York: University Press of America.
Granovetter, M. (1973). Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78 (6): 1360-1380 [^pdf] // Read first half (up to 1369) very carefully. What's the mechanism? Using the framework of Lave and March, is this a good theory?
Handouts
Lave & March. Theorizing
Lave & March. How to Theorize
Homework due
theory homework (send to google group)
Slides
Borgatti. 2008. "Applied theory." Academy of Management conference, Anaheim. (abridged) [pdf]
Software
Download file containing popsim.exe, which simulates growth in no. of boys and girls (ala Chap 3 of Lave & March) [zip]
Bibliography
(actually, it was Kurt Lewin, social psychologist, who said this -- not the guy in the picture)
"This isn't right. It's not even wrong."
-- Wolfgang Pauli, on a paper he was asked to comment on
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." -- Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1922)
Optional
Borgatti, S.P. and Kidwell, V. 2010. “Network Theorizing”. In Carrington, P. and Scott, J. (eds) The Sage Handbook of Social Network Analysis. Sage Publications. [pdf] // read section on strength of weak ties
Levitt and Dubner. 2005.Freakonomics. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Sutton, R. I., & Staw, B. M. (1995). What theory is not. Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(3), 371-384.
Read about Feynman's "cargo cult" speech [html]