FAML 400-1 Exam and Answers Grade A+

FAML 400-1 Exam and Answers Grade A+ What is a theory? - Answer - 1. set of ideas that guide our thinking 2. set of concepts and propositions that allow us to describe and explain some aspect of an experience 3. theorizing is the process of systematically formulating and organizing ideas to understand a particular phenomenon. In addition, a theory is a set of interconnected ideas that emerge from this process. What are the basic functions of a theory? - Answer - 1. Increase knowledge: meets goals of science basic theory 2. Apply knowledge: practical knowledge applied by practitioners applied theory What do theories do? - Answer - EXPLAIN: -offer different explanations for observations -family theories explain observations of families GENERATE KNOWLEDGE: -focuses thinking -it is a lens that allows new perspectives (what we view) PREDICT: -helps us solve problems -helps us know where/how to intervene Functions of theory: Practical application - Answer - 1. therapy 2. education 3. social policy 4. social movements what are the components of a theory? - Answer - 1. Assumptions 2. Concepts 3. Propositions 4. Critiques: Note: relationship between concepts, relationships between propositions and connections between propositions and the empirical world of observation Assumptions - Answer - Beliefs accepted as givens or self evident accepted as true without being tested Concepts - Answer - Provide mutually agreed upon definitions of terms when operationalized become measurable variables Propositions (theories) - Answer - -suggested relationships or outcomes that might be expected if our theory correctly defines reality -scientific theory is a systematic collection of propositions and the relationship between them -Must have at least two propositions, otherwise it's just a hypothesis and not a theory -propositions are statements that show relationship between concepts *causal *covariational Deductive - Answer - general to specific work from top down 1. theory 2. tentative hypothesis 3. pattern 4. observation inductive reasoning - Answer - specific to general moves from observed data to a generalized explanation grounded theories relationship between theory and research - Answer - inductive and deductive reasoning inductive goes from data to ideas; research to theory deductive goes from ideas to data; theory to research what are the roots of family theories in social sciences? - Answer - sociology economics psychology *macro or micro approaches Uniqueness of family theory - Answer - application to the social group knows as the family characteristics differ from other social groups such as: length of association intergenerational biological/affinal lines large kinship organization What are the characteristics of a good theory? - Answer - the simplest explanations are the best explains the greatest amount of behavior with the fewest numbers of principles falsifiable or verifiable: identify potential situations that would occur if theory is not correct heuristic: stimulates new research techniques and the discovery of new knowledge does a theory generate new testable questions? Conflict Theory - Answer - Humans are self-oriented scarcity of resources conflict is over control of scarce resources end result of conflict can be good Systems theory - Answer - a family is a system the whole is greater than the sum of its parts each family member takes on a role each member of the family affects every other member in some way exchange theory - Answer - costs versus rewards relationships are evaluated based on the costs of the relationship versus the rewards of the relationship family development - Answer - families change over time there are tasks associated with each stage of development Feminist Theory - Answer - women's experiences are central to our understanding of families value in viewing a family through a woman's perspective different camps: conservative, moderate, extreme gender is socially constructed Structural Functionalism - Answer - functions of families is to procreate and socialize children structure of the family is determined by its function Symbolic Interactionism - Answer - Approach that focuses on the interactions among people based on mutually understood symbols What are the paradigms of science? - Answer - Positivism (Family Development Theory, Exchange Theory) Interpretive (Symbolic Theory, Structural Functionalism Theory, Systems Theory Conflict or Critical (Feminist Theory and Conflict Theory): Tenets of positivism - Answer - scientific experiments have the purpose of being able to control what is studied and predict the outcome. Deterministic: Cause and Effect