domains / families / research / soctheory-topic-selection

soctheory-topic-selection

separate

Use when deciding whether an idea is a genuine theoretical problem and a fit for Sociological Theory (ST) rather than an empirical study or a review essay. Screens the problem and venue fit; it does NOT build the theory (soctheory-theory-construction) or position it in a tradition (soctheory-literature-positioning).

When to use

• deciding if an idea is a genuine theoretical problem
• checking fit for Sociological Theory (ST)
• screening problem and venue fit
• distinguishing theoretical problems from topics
• identifying kind of theory work
• routing off ST if fit is wrong

When not to use

• building the theory
• positioning in a tradition
• empirical testing of hypotheses
• methods or measurement advances
• comprehensive field surveys
• historically grounded macro-process theory
• continental social theory essays

Skill page

Source