Tubergen KeyWords 2

proposition

universal statement, i.e. statement about the causal relations between two or more concepts

theory schema

type of theory tool in which propositions, conditions, hypotheses and observations are written out as a coherent set of verbal statements

condition

assumption about the specific setting which related propositions to observations and hypotheses

deductive-nomological explanation

form of explanation of phenomena using proposition(s) and conditions

hypothesis

testable prediction, derived from theory

modus tollens

logic rule which states that if hypothesized that A leads to B, and it is observed that B is not true, then A cannot be true either

theory

coherent set of propositions and assumptions about conditions which can explain certain phenomena and which generate hypotheses (predictions) on other (yet unobserved and hypothetical) phenomena

empirical succes

the degree of empirical confirmation of a theroy

information content

the degree of theoretical precision and theoretical scope of a theory

theoretical precision

the degree to which the theory excludes possibilities of what could happen with respect to a particular case

theoretical scope

the degree to which the theory is applicable to a wider range of cases: phenomena, populations, and settings

deeper explanation

type of explanation in which one proposition is explained by another, more general, proposition

scope condition

set of conditions to which a certain theory is applicable

concept

/ theoretical variable: hypothetical abstraction that contains certain categories

theoretical variable

/ concept: hypothetical abstraction that contains certain categories

typology

a way of classifying reality, often done by combining concepts

independent variable

variable which has an effect on the dependent variable

dependent variable

variable which is affected by the independent variable

causality

idea that an independent variable X has an effect on a dependent variable Y

theory tool

tool which helps to systematically present a theory (three often-used theory tools: theory schema, conceptual model and formal model)

conceptual model

type of theory tool in which the causal relationships between concepts are visualized

direct causal relationship

a relationship between two variables X and Y, such that changes in X have a direct effect on changes in Y

mediator

a variable Z that mediated the relationship between variables X and Y, such that changes in X impact changed in Z, which then results in changes in Y

complete mediation

the impact of X on Y is completely accounted for by a third variable Z such that there is no other wat that X affects Y than via Z

partial model

the impact of X on Y is partially accounted for by a third variable Z such that X affects via Z but also via other variables

bidirectional relation

/ feedback relation: relation between two variables X and Y such that changes in X result in changes in Y, and changes in Y result in changes in X

feedback relation

/ bidirectional relation: relation between two variables X and Y such that change in X result in changes in Y, and changes in Y result in changes in X

formal model

type of theory tool in which theories are expressed with formalized language