An Introduction to Some Key Concepts

Anthony SealeyUniversity of Toronto

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Key Concepts to be Discussed

1) Theories, Concepts and Variables

2) Measures and Indicators

Theories, Concepts and Variables

• In the social sciences, we use the term ‘theory’ to refer to explanations of observable regularities or patterns.

• Theory tell us why what we know to be true is true.

e.g. Some people believe that Canadian

political culture is more ‘deferential’ than American political culture and

that Canadians are more likely to favour a greater level of

government intervention that Americans.

Seymour Martin Lipset’s ‘Formative Events’ theory suggests that this difference can be explained by the differences in the events which led to the creation of these two countries. While the United States was an outcome of a violent revolution against the British government, the Canadian state was created peacefully.

• ‘Concepts’ can be thought of as theoretical building blocks which we use to build theories. Concepts are often quite abstract, but can also be quite concrete.

e.g. ????

• ‘Concepts’ can be thought of as theoretical building blocks which we use to build theories. Concepts are often quite abstract, but can also be quite concrete.

e.g. Power, democracy, left- vs. right-wing, feminism, moral traditionalism

• Broadly speaking, a ‘variable’ is anything that can take on a variety of possible values. The creation of variables is an important step toward the operationalization of a concept.

• When we operationalize a concept, we provide a specific definition of it that allows us to measure it. The creation of specific variables helps us to do this.

e.g. For the purposes of this analysis, a

‘war’ is any armed conflict in which at

least 1000 people killed in armed

conflict in a given year.

Measures and Indicators

• A measure is a variable that has been constructed in order to operationalize a specific concept.

• An indicator is a variable that is combined with other indicators in order to create a measure.

e.g. Creating a Measure for ‘Social Progressivism’

SocialProgressivis

m

Outlooks on Gay Rights

Outlooks on Prostitution

Outlooks on Abortion

• Notice that in some case, a given variable can be conceived of as either a measure or an indicator.

e.g. ‘Outlooks on gay rights’ can be used either as a measure of ‘homophobia’ or an indicator of a measure of ‘social progressivism’.