SOCIOLOGICAL

THEORY
Concepts & Variables
 CONCEPTS
 Basic building blocks upon which Theory is
built.
 Important elements of scientific
methodology, both in theory & research.
 They make it easier to explain, interpret &
analyse social phenomena.
 It is placed as a part in a thought framework
which generalises or explains a given
phenomena.
 CONCEPTS
 Terminological means by which social
scientists seek to analyse sociological
phenomena,/ to classify the objects of the
observed world,/ impart meaning to this
phenomena by explanation and formulate
propositions on the basis of these
observations.
 A general idea derived or inferred form
specific instances or occurrences; something
formed in the mind; a thought or a notion.
 CONCEPTS
PV Young: “Each new class of data, isolated
form the other classes on the basis of definite
characteristics is given a name or a label, which
is called a Concept”

They are used in 2 ways:

 Those which describe directly observable
phenomena.
 Those which signify inferred phenomena.
 CONCEPTS
Features of a Concept

 It must be precise, definite & clear.

 There should be no ambivalence.
 It must be clearly formulated.
 It must be comprehensive.
 They can be realised through experience,
reasoning or imagination.
 VARIABLES

 Integral part of research & theory building.

 A variable is an entity that can take on

different values across individuals & time.
 VR can be defined, controlled, manipulated &
measured in relational studies.
 VARIABLES

 Variables such as intelligence, motivation, and

academic achievement are concepts,
constructs, or traits that cannot be observed
directly.

 They should be stated in precise definitions

that can be observed and measured. This
process is called operationalization.
VARIABLES
 Types of VARIABLES
 Independent Variable
 Dependent Variable

 IV is manipulated either by the researcher or by the

nature of circumstance.
 Also called ‘stimulus’, ‘predictor’ or ‘input’ variable.
 The ‘cause’ in C-E relationship.

 DV is observed or measured and which is influenced &

changed by the IV.
 Also called ‘response’, ‘output’ or ‘criterion’ variable.
 The ‘effect’ in C-E relationship.
 VARIABLES
 Effects of alcohol on people’s sense of balance.
 Straight line walk & stumbling.

•Sense of •Walking in
balance a straight
line

•Stumbling •Effects of
outside alcohol
the line
• Sense of • Walking in
balance a straight
• DV line

• Stumbling • Effects of
outside alcohol
the line • IV
 VARIABLES
 Effect of classical music & levels of relaxation (heart
rate).
 Classical music 1 hour; Quiet room, no music 1 hour.
• Levels of • Curiosity
relaxation

• Quiet • Effects of
room classical
music
•Levels of • Curiosity
relaxation
•DV

• Quiet •Effects of
room classical
music
•IV
 VARIABLES
 Moderator VR: special type of IV selected for study in
order to investigate whether it modifies the relationship
between IV & DV.
IV-DV: direct relationship.
IV-MV-DV: effect of MV on the relationship.

 Control VR: those that the researcher has kept constant or

neutralised to eliminate any overwhelming effect on the
concerned study.

 Intervening VR: constructs or concepts that may explain

the relationship between IV & DV but are not, themselves,
directly observable. INV will have effects but will not be
able to account for them.
 Theoretical Statements
 Theoretical statements
 Self evident; proven logically & constructed on
abstraction; they do not carry right or wrong
perceptions.

 Empirical statements
 Dependent on observations; never absolute &
overwhelming; if concepts are in a THS are observed
& proved linearly through cause & effect relationship,
then they become EMPS.

 Durkheim's Theory of Suicide.

 Abstract – Concrete; THS to EMPS
 Egoistic, Altruistic, Anomic, Fatalistic.
 PARADIGMS

 A sociological paradigm represents a

fundamental illustration of the society (the
definition of its concept, the comprehension
of its structure and dynamics) which has been
more or less accepted in the association of
sociologists during certain periods of this
scientific development.
 PARADIGMS
5 functions of a paradigm in Sociology

 the function of defining concepts.

 the function of decreasing the probability of
unconscious introduction of latent assumptions and
concepts.
 the function of cumulating theoretical
interpretations.
 the function of concept systematization.
 the function of qualitative analysis and codification
 PARADIGMS
The statements and attitudes of a classical
sociological paradigm are predominant in:
 linear progress and historical determinism,

 mechanical comprehension of the social universe,

 idealized image of the society in the centre of which
are order, harmony, non-conflicting, and

 in which the conflicts, social struggles, force and

domination, social changes, discontinuity, dominance
of system over personality, limited picture of
historical actors, are either excluded or less discussed.
 PARADIGMS
A new sociological paradigm is created on
completely new assumptions and knowledge and its
statements and attitudes are predominant in:

 the openness of history,

 the beginning of an era of great cultural
transformations, mutual permeance of social
processes of continuity and discontinuity,
 the necessity of free human actions and the
appearance of new agents of social changes,
 the beginning of social movements and the outset of
new factors of social dynamics.
Sociological Paradigms