Orientation hypothesis

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An orientation hypothesis in the methodology formulates an unspecified indication of how a precisely determined theory can be constructed. Robert K. Merton speaks of “general orientations” which refer to types of variables that are hereby described as “somehow” relevant for the empirically posed problem . Immanuel Kant speaks of " orienting oneself in thinking " when reason, in the case of inadequate objective principles, is determined to be true according to subjective principles.

Orientation hypotheses in and of themselves do not, strictly speaking, represent theories themselves, but merely outline possibilities and criteria of how and according to which they could be formed. Karl-Dieter Opp considers an orientation hypothesis for a metalinguistic structure. Methodologically, they are not the same as, say, a vague proposed definition . In many theoretical drafts, however, it is not clear what an orientation hypothesis should be and what is not. This makes a subsequent "reconstruction" of the theoretical draft in question necessary.

An orientation hypothesis refers indirectly to real facts, but is not a directly empirically testable statement and therefore has no specific empirical content . Whether a certain orientation hypothesis is fruitful can therefore only be determined through its problem-solving capacity in comparison with the opposing alternatives.

swell

  1. ^ Robert K. Merton: Social Theory and Social Structure. 2nd ed. Glencoe, Ill. 1957. p. 88
  2. ↑ Immanuel Kant: What does it mean to orient oneself in thinking? In: Writings on Metaphysics and Logic 1st edition of the work published by Wilhelm Weischedel. stw 188. 1st edition Frankfurt / Main 1977. ISBN 3-518-27788-X . P. 270, note *
  3. ^ Karl-Dieter Opp: Methodology of the Social Sciences. Introduction to problems of theorising. Rowohlt (rde 339): Reinbek near Hamburg 1970. ISBN 3-499-55339-2 . P. 206f.
  4. ↑ Joachim Matthes: The discussion about the comparison of theories in the social sciences since the Kasseler Soziologentag 1974. In: Comparison of theories in the social sciences. Edited and introduced by Karl Otto Hondrich, Joachim Matthes. Luchterhand Darmstadt Neuwied 1978. ISBN 3-472-75108-8 . P. 10.

literature

  • Reinhard Wippler: The elaboration of theoretical approaches to explanatory theories. In: Comparison of theories in the social sciences. Edited and introduced by Karl Otto Hondrich, Joachim Matthes. Luchterhand Darmstadt Neuwied 1978. ISBN 3-472-75108-8 . Pp. 196-212.