Theories are:

• Abstractions

• Constructions

• Evaluated according to their usefulness not their truthfulness

Two elements of Theories

• Concepts

• Definitions

Traditional Ideal: six concepts

• Hypothesis

• Operationism

• Control: Measurement, Validity, Reliability

• Covering Laws

• Prediction

Theories change in 3 ways:

• Extension

• Intension

• Revolution

Differences

• The study of differences in theories is called Metatheory: Meta means after

3 major areas of metatheory

• Epistemology--nature of knowledge

• Ontology--nature of being

• Axiology--place of values

Epistemology

• Does knowledge exist before experience?

• How certain can knowledge be?

• Is knowledge in parts or whole?

Two Major Views of Knowledge

• Worldview I: empiricist and rationalist

• Worldview II: interpretive

Six Criteria for Evaluating Theories

• Scope

• Appropriateness

• Heuristic Value

• Validity

• Parsimony

• Openness