When theories are used at this level they are referred to as Macro Theories, theories which best fit the study of massive numbers of people (typically Conflict and Functional theories). Theories have to be supported by research and they also provide a framework for how specific research should be conducted.īy the way theories can be used to study society-millions of people in a state, country, or even at the world level. For all intents and purposes this theory was abandoned and is only used in references such as these (for a more scientifically supported theory on aging Google “Activity Theory and/or Continuity Theory”). Findings and generalization consistently yielded a “no” in terms of support for this theory. Cumming and Henry tested their theory on a large number of elderly persons. 1987 The Encyclopedia of Aging, Springer Pub. These were simply put, that all elderly people realize the inevitability of death and begin to systematically disengage from their previous youthful roles while at the same time society prepares to disengage from them (see Maddox et al. They devised a theory on aging that had assumptions built into it. In the 1960's two researchers named Cumming and Henry studied the processes of aging. If the findings and generalizations do not support the theory, the sociologist rethinks and revisits the assumptions they made. If they do, similar studies will be performed to repeat and fine-tune the process. Once the study is administered the findings and generalizations can be considered to see if they support the theory. In the diagram below you can see the process by which a theory leads sociologist to perform a certain type of study with certain types of questions that can test the assumptions of the theory. Without theories, science would be a futile exercise in statistics. Theories are sets of inter-related concepts and ideas that have been scientifically tested and combined to magnify, enlarge, clarify, and expand our understanding of people, their behaviors, and their societies. Goggles work because the best scientific components work together to magnify, enlarge, clarify, and expand to our view the thing we are studying. The metaphor I've used for many years to illustrate the usefulness of a theory is what I call the “goggles metaphor.” Goggles are a set of inter-related parts that help us see things more clearly. Theory is a set of interrelated concepts used to describe, explain, and predict how society and its parts are related to each other. And they will provide you with a basic understanding of how to see the larger social picture in your own personal life. They also guide practitioners in their intervention strategies. Sociological theories are the core and underlying strength of the discipline.
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