Concept, Theory, case

Deciphering the Differences

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Outline

1. Definitions

2. Debates in Academia

3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Approaches

4. Applying Theory to Case

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1. Definitions – Concept

A concept is one word, or phrase, that suggests an abstract idea or phenomenon in the social sciences.

Concepts are highly contested. Concepts can be ambiguous – a major

task in philosophical and theoretical writing is to clarify them.

Concepts are building blocks for theory – it is important to be clear what you mean when you use them!

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-Take a piece of paper and write down your definition of what freedom is.

-What are its components?

-What are the similarities/differences of your definitions?

Class exercise: What is freedom?

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1. Definitions – Theory

Theories are an attempt to logically and systematically explain real-life phenomena in an accessible and clear way.

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1. Definitions – Theory

Theories have different functions: Make generalisations and classifications –

grand theories try to explain how the world works e.g. Marxism

Build hypotheses to be tested through empirical research

Draw connections at an abstract level, which might not be immediately observable, to guide research in new directions

Explain and identify potential causal mechanisms and other relationships between different phenomena

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1. Definitions – Model

Models are mid-level theories that are restricted to specific phenomena.

They work as analytical tools, simplifying specific phenomena, and use a set of specific concepts to look at a phenomenon.

They are often based on greater theories, however, scholars with different theoretical standpoints can use the same models as tools of analysis.

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1. Definitions – Variable

Variables are concepts that are defined in such a way that they can be observed and/or measured in some way.

Variables can be evaluated in terms of to their validity and reliability.

We distinguish between dependent and independent variables.

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2. Debates in Academia?

Academia is all about debates – can you think of some?

Theories evolve over time and with debates.

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Realism vs. Neorealism

Before World War II ‘realism’ meant something different to what it meant in the post-WWII cold war environment.

Classical realism puts an emphasis on the self-interested and unchanging human nature, which makes states self-interested and power-seeking units.

Neo-realism explains conflict by the state of anarchy in the international sphere. It is less power-seeking, but survival-seeking behaviour that leads to conflict.

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3. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Approaches- Quantitative and qualitative approaches

often ask and answer different questions, so that they may conceptualise ideas/phenomena differently despite often using the same words.

- When using a quantitative approach, scholars must use concepts in a way in which they are quantifiable.

- Qualitative approaches can allow for much broader conceptualisations.

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Class exercise: Conceptualising “Democracy” for a Qualitative and

a Quantitative StudyQualitative Quantitative

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4. Applying theory to case.

In this course, we apply different theories and models, employing different concepts, to analyse specific events in history, i.e. cases.

Theories and models by definition are analytical tools that simplify the “reality” of a case in order to make it analysable.

Thus, different theoretical lenses simplify cases in different ways, and thus can shed light on different aspects of a conflict, as they ask questions differently.

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Question: What caused the Great Lakes Conflict of 1996?

What kinds of sub-questions would we ask to answer this, looking at the conflict from a… … Realist perspective?

… Social constructivist perspective?

Class exercise: Looking at the 1996 Great Lakes Conflict

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Conclusion

What is a… …concept? …theory? …model? …variable?

What makes good research? Is quantitative always better than

qualitative? What is the use of applying theories to a

case?

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