The Relation of theory to research 115

1
The Relation of theory to research 1/15

• The example of the Freedom battery from the
  General Social Survey

2
Theory Research

• The central idea of the course is that there is a
  dialectical or reciprocal relation between theory
  and research
• Theory Research
• Valid and useful theory must have empirical
  research implications
• Research Theory
• Valid and useful empirical research must be
  motivated by theory and have theoretical
  implications.

3
Theory Research

• Theoretical considerations play the dominant role
  in the formulation and interpretation of any
  data.
• The facts never speak for themselves.
• Data without theory are dumb.
• The role of theory includes conceptualization of
  measures, the causal order and other forces that
  may be involved, interpretation of the finding,
  and generalization to other cases.

4
What about serendipity?

• Sometimes important discoveries have been made by
  theorists who did not expect that particular
  finding.
• E.g. Penicillin from moldy bread.
• And that is one of the reasons that empirical
  research is always indispensible.
• But there were also many theoretical
  preconditions of the discovery of Penicillin

5
Research Theory

• Empirical research is basic to any science.
• Theories that do not have a rich and varied set
  of researchable implications are merely ways of
  talking about reality they do not involve
  assertions about reality.
• Most sociologists correctly regard them as
  meaningless and empty.
• Theories without data are blind.
• The role of data includes modification and
  clarification of theories as well as decisions
  between competing theories.

6
An example Sources and nature of the value of
freedom

• O. Patterson argues that freedom is a core value
  of the west, particularly the United States.
• Thus the view that some set of arrangements or
  actions involves or promotes freedom has
  consequences
• But Freedom is a complex value.
• Different people have different views and
  concepts that need investigation.

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Pattersons concept of the three notes in the
chord of freedom

• Freedom-from The rights of individuals and
  groups not to have others or the government
  constrain them from doing what they wish.
• Freedom-to Providing the actual wherewithall
  for individuals or groups to actually do what
  they wish
• Freedom-with The ability to influence and
  initiate collective action
• The three notes are in tension with each other.

8
The basic paradox or dialectic of freedom,
according to Patterson

• Freedom comes from slavery
• The main societies that have engendered the value
  have been slave societies.
• The main groups that have promoted the value have
  been slaves (or threatened with slavery)
• But slavery is pervasive
• And the value of freedom is unusual

9
Why did it not become a core value outside of the
modern West?

• Slaves aspired for freedom, but
• They had no power.
• Freedom for one person did not imply freedom for
  another.
• Indeed the conditions of an inclusive social
  horizon are rare.
• Freedom was seen as a good thing but
• Particularistic social ties were indispensable
• Freedom was Jumping from a slave ship into shark
  infested water.

10
Christianity and Freedom

• Patterson argues that Christianity played a
  fundamental role in institutionalizing freedom as
  a value.
• Paul made redemption from spiritual slavery the
  fundamental promise.
• Augustine developed that idea.
• But this involved a kind of freedom that
  coexisted happily with slavery for thousands of
  years.

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Empirical analysis of the value

• The Patterson battery on the last General Social
  Survey will familiarize us with
• The GSS
• Cross tabulation
• Samples and populations.
• Theoretical interpretation.

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Consider the following variables

• Gender (male)
• Race (white)
• How Free (Believes that Americans today have
  complete or a great deal
• Free Now (Believes that Americans today have more
  freedom than in past
• Wlth Pov (Agrees or strongly agrees that In a
  free society, it is alright if a few people
  accumulate a lot of wealth and property while
  many others live in poverty.)

13
Formulate hypotheses on

• Gender How Free -- - 0
• Gender Free Now -- - 0
• Gender Wlth Pov -- - 0
• Race How Free -- - 0
• Race Free Now -- - 0
• Race Wlth Pov -- - 0
• Wlth Pov How Free -- - 0