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Elementary Theory: 25 Years of Expanding Scope and Increasing Precision

Authors are ordered first by number of sections contributed and then alphabetically. The first author is solely responsible for errors.

Advances in Group Processes

ISBN: 978-1-78441-078-0

Publication date: 1 January 2014

Abstract

Purpose

This exposition explains how Elementary Theory works and how it has been developed over the last two-and-a-half decades. Both increased scope and heightened precision are covered.

Methodology/Approach

Theoretic methodology is explained. Using that method formal models are constructed analogous to empirical events. Those models predict events, design experiments, and guide applications in the field.

Findings

There is a widely held belief in sociology that theory becomes more vague and imprecise as its scope broadens. Whereas broader generalizations are more vague than narrower ones, this exposition shows that abstract theory becomes more precise as its scope broadens.

Research Limitations/Implications

Here implications and limitations are closely connected. Regarding implications, this exposition shows that scientific explanations and predictions are viable today in sociology but only when exact theory is employed. Regarding limitations, the theory and research included in this exposition make clear why the empiricist search for regularities that dominates sociological research is so very limited in its results.

Originality/Value of Chapter

This exposition demonstrates that theory is the method of all the sciences and in particular the science of sociology.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank The National Science Foundation for grants supporting the development and testing of Elementary Theory and its relations to other theories.

Citation

Willer, D., Emanuelson, P., Lovaglia, M.J., Simpson, B., Thye, S.R., Walker, H., Corra, M., Gilham, S., Lewis, D., Patton, T., Chacon, Y. and Chacon, R. (2014), "Elementary Theory: 25 Years of Expanding Scope and Increasing Precision

Authors are ordered first by number of sections contributed and then alphabetically. The first author is solely responsible for errors.

", Advances in Group Processes (Advances in Group Processes, Vol. 31), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 175-217. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0882-614520140000031005

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014 Emerald Group Publishing Limited