Special Topics Research Seminar (525-0-23)

Topic

Theory Building in the Social Sciences

Instructors

Erik C Nisbet

Meeting Info

Frances Searle Building 1483: Tues 11:00AM - 1:50PM

Overview of class

This theory construction course is intended for doctoral students who engage in scholarship from a social science perspective and further their development as a social scientist. This course explores the combination of intellectual rigor and creativity in social science theory development that is the hallmark of good social science.

The class will begin laying a conceptual foundation regarding social science theory and theory development. Subsequent weeks will combine discussion of readings with brief updates by students about their progress in their efforts at original theory development. Lecture will be kept to a minimum as one learns to think about theory by actively thinking about and discussing theory and theory-building. Therefore, this class will have a strong "workshop" element, with students developing their ideas in an intellectual community with feedback from fellow students as well as from their mentors and instructor.

Class Materials (Required)

Jaccard, J. & Jacoby, J. (2020). Theory construction and model-building skills 2nd edition. NY: Guilford Press

Shoemaker, P.J., Tankard, J.W., & Lasorsa, D.L. (2004). How to build social science theories. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Class Attributes

Graduate Students Only