How to Write Conceptual Papers in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide for Students

✍ Scribed by Jon-Arild Johannessen, Bjørn Olsen

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2023
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 149
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book is a practical guide on how to write conceptual papers and use conceptual generalization as a research methodology. Divided into two parts, the book first focuses on the scientific foundation for conceptual generalization, to identify what is a conceptual model and how conceptual models can be developed. Part two focuses on how to write a winning conceptual thesis, covering conceptual generalisation and empirical generalisation, and discusses research problems and questions, and how to analyse them. The authors cover different conceptual and analytical models to offer students a multitude of tools to visualize, interpret and uncover relationships and patterns. For example, they explore the thought experiment, analytical models, empirical causal models, analytical forms and data mining models, and outline a strategy for developing conceptual models to assist with students who wish to design their own conceptual paper. Students gain a clear understanding of the driving forces in the research process, how to define a research problem, how to analysis the problem and develop research strategies. Moving from concepts to hypotheses, the book also covers the main types of errors that may be encountered as students learn about understanding the development of models and how to develop a theory. Also including a checklist for students, and a list of definitions and concepts, this is the ideal resource for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students, and researchers, in the social sciences.

✦ Table of Contents

Table of Contents
List of figures
Preface
Part I: Conceptual generalization
1 Conceptual generalizations
1.1 What is a conceptual model?
1.2 How can we develop a conceptual model?
1.2.1 Various conceptual models
1.2.2 Case studies
1.2.3 Empirical causal models
1.2.3.1 Generalization
1.2.3.2 Association
1.2.3.3 Attribution
1.3 A typology and strategy for the development of conceptual models
1.4 A strategy for the development of a conceptual model
Concluding comments
Practical implications
Theoretical implications
Part II: How to write a winning conceptual thesis
2 General considerations
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Driving forces in the research process
2.3 Knowledge development
2.4 The study wheel
Concluding comments
Exercises
Notes
3 Research problems and questions
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Thorough preparation is half the solution
3.3 Problems
3.4 Problem system
Concluding comments
Exercises
4 Analysis of the research problem
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The start of the process of asking questions
4.3 Problem relationships
4.4 Problem solutions
Concluding comments
Exercises
5 Our mental tools
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Constructs
5.2.1 Concepts
5.2.2 Propositions and theories
5.3 Use of constructs in research
Concluding comments
Exercises
6 Suggestions for developing research strategies
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The first step in a research strategy
6.3 What is a scientific method?
6.4 The different approaches to research
Concluding comments
Exercises
Note
7 The main types of errors
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Problem formulation
7.3 Models
7.4 Analysis
7.5 Synthesis
7.6 Implementation
7.7 Evaluation
Concluding comments
Exercises
8 From concepts to hypotheses
8.1 Introduction
8.2 The purpose of concepts and hypotheses
8.3 Mental constructs
8.4 Hypothesis
Concluding comments
Exercises
9 Types of hypothesis
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Descriptive and explanatory hypotheses
Concluding comments
Exercises
10 Systematization
10.1 Classification
10.2 Typologization
10.3 Classification
Concluding comments
Exercises
11 Simplification
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Phenomenon
Concluding comments
Exercises
12 Causality
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Cause and affect
12.3 Historical causal processes
12.4 Functional causal processes
12.5 Cybernetic causal processes
12.6 Pattern-based processes
Concluding comments
Exercise
13 Interpretation
13.1 Introduction
13.2 The interpretative process
Concluding comments
Exercises
14 Uncovering patterns
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Typology of patterns
14.3 Uncovering patterns
Concluding comments
Exercises
15 Understanding and explaining
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Describe, understand, explain
15.3 From data to knowledge
Exercises
16 Development of models
16.1 Introduction
16.2 The purpose of developing models
16.3 Model types
Concluding comments
Exercises
17 Theory development
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Developing theories
17.3 From propositions to hypothesis
Concluding comments
Exercises
18 Reflections
19 Checklist
20 Definitions of terms and concepts
References
Index