theory

(noun)

A coherent statement or set of ideas that explains observed facts or phenomena, or which sets out the laws and principles of something known or observed; a hypothesis confirmed by observation, experiment, etc.

Related Terms

  • practice
  • scientific method

Examples of theory in the following topics:

  • Conflict Theory

    • Provide an overview of conflict theory, including its most prominent theorists.
  • Political Opportunity Theory

    • Describe how and why political opportunities are important to social movements according to political opportunity theory.
  • New Social Movement theories

  • Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

    • Sociologists develop theories to explain social phenomena.
    • Sociological theory is developed at multiple levels, ranging from grand theory to highly contextualized and specific micro-range theories.
    • Putnam's theory proposes:
    • This element of Putnam's theory clearly illustrates the basic purpose of sociological theory.
    • In short, Putnam's theory clearly encapsulates the key ideas of a sociological theory.
  • Theory and Practice

    • Putnam's theory proposes:
    • In short, Putnam's theory clearly encapsulates the key ideas of a sociological theory.
    • Sociologists often work from an already existing theory, and seek to test that theory in new situations.
    • This data may confirm the theory, lead to modifications of it, or disprove the theory altogether in that particular context.
    • When working from theory, sociological observation runs the risk of being directed by that theory.
  • Introduction

    • Sociologists develop theories to explain social phenomena.
    • Putnam's theory proposes:
    • In short, Putnam's theory clearly encapsulates the key ideas of a sociological theory.
    • Sociological theory is developed at multiple levels, ranging from grand theory to highly contextualized and specific micro-range theories.
    • As the dominant theories in sociology are discussed below, you might be inclined to ask, "Which of these theories is the best?
  • Exchange

    • Social exchange theory applies this type of equation to social relationships.
    • The theory is fundamentally oriented around rational choice theory, or the idea that all human behavior is guided by an individual's interpretation of what is in his best interest.
    • Social exchange theory is only comprehensible through the lens of rational choice theory.
    • Several assumptions undergird social exchange theory.
    • Explain how social exchange theory is based upon rational choice theory
  • Continuity Theory

    • The continuity theory proposes that older adults maintain the same activities, behaviors, personalities, and relationships of the past.
    • Maddox and Robert Atchley are most closely associated with the continuity theory.
    • The theory is criticized primarily for its definition of normal aging.
    • The theory distinguishes between normal aging and pathological aging, so it neglects older adults who suffer from chronic illness.
    • The theory also fails to explain how social institutions impact individuals and the way they age.
  • Sources of Social Change

    • Social movement theories seek to explain how social movements form and develop.
    • A variety of theories have attempted to explain how social movements develop.
    • Some of the better-known approaches include deprivation theory, mass-society theory, structural-strain theory, resource-mobilization theory, political process theory and culture theory.
    • This particular section will thus pay attention to structural-strain theory and culture theory, while mass-society theory and political process theory will be discussed in greater detail later in "International Sources of Social Change" and "External Sources of Social Change," respectively.
    • Both resource-mobilization theory and political process theory incorporate the concept of injustice into their approaches.
  • Activity Theory

    • Activity theory proposes that successful aging occurs when older adults stay active and maintain social interactions.
    • The theory assumes a positive relationship between activity and life satisfaction.
    • The theory predicts that older adults that face role loss will substitute former roles with other alternatives.
    • The theory was developed by gerontologist, or, scholar of aging, Robert J.
    • Havighurst's activity theory is at deliberate odds with what some perceive as the pessimism of disengagement theory.
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