1. SOCI 2003B: Sociological Methods Colleen Anne Dell, Ph.D. Carleton University, Department of Sociology & Anthropology Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse September 21, 2006 Theory and Social Research

2. OUTLINE 1. The structure of social theory A. What is theory? B. Terms used in the construction of theory C. Three elements of theory D. The role of hypotheses 2. Deduction and induction: The two systems of logic

3. WORKSHOP: Identification of research teams Guest Speakers: Rachelle Larocque & Simon Baldwin, 2005-06 course students – Working with your research team

4. 1. THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIAL THEORY

5. THE RESEARCH WHEEL THEORY INDUCTION DEDUCTION EMPRICAL HYPOTHESES GENERALIZATIONS MEASUREMENT OPERATIONALIZATION OBSERVATION

6. “A systematic set of interrelated statements intended to explain some aspect of social life”. “A linking of facts that posit an explanation of social behaviour” (B & B). “A set of concepts bound together by explicit relationships and causal properties” (Bernard and Ritti). A. Theory

7. B. Terms Used in the Construction of Theory Observation Fact Law THEORY = A linking of facts that posit an explanation of social behaviour.

8. ANSWER FOR NEXT WEEK Your text discusses how a paradigm influences how and where a researcher looks for answers to important questions. Consider the following research problem: What causes a person to use illicit drugs? Use two different paradigms to answer this research problem. What types of questions would he or she ask?

9. Concepts: The building blocks of social theory Propositions: Statements about the relationships between concepts Contingency: Propositions must be testable to become a theory C. 3 Elements of Theory

10. D. The role of hypotheses Hypothesis: “The formal statement of the implications that the theory holds for what may be observed if the theory is correct.”

11. 2. DEDUCTION & INDUCTION: THE TWO SYSTEMS OF LOGIC

12. When using induction…. A researcher’s thinking runs from the specific observations made into general theory: “I have some interesting data here; what are the data saying about human behaviour?” (Marcionis, Nancarrow-Clarke, Gerber 1997:55).

13. When using deduction…. A researcher’s thinking is referred to as working ‘downward’ in the scientific process, and runs from general theory into specific hypotheses appropriate for scientific testing: “I have this hunch about behaviour; let’s put it in a form we can test, collect some data, and see if it is correct”. (Ibid).

14. Grounded Theory (Glaser & Straus) Begin constructing a theory through the inductive method by observing aspects of social life, and then seeking to discover patterns that may point to relatively universal principles.

15. RESEARCH TEAMS

16. GUEST SPEAKERS Rachelle Larocque & Simon Baldwin, 2005-06 course students “Working with your research team”