CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

Based upon their reading of chapter 2, students should:

1. know four functions of concepts in social scientific research.
2. distinguish between conceptual and operational definition, using the definitions of alienation as an example.
3. understand the significance of congruence between conceptual and operational definitions, and be able to discuss theoretical import.
4. discuss common misconceptions about theory.
5. distinguish between Parsons's and Shils's four levels of theory.
6. explain formal or axiomatic theory.
7. explain the use of models in social scientific research.
8. understand the theory-then-research versus research-then-theory approaches.