文档介绍：I. Testing Theories and Hypotheses A. Three Criteria of Causal Explanations B. Experimental Research C. Field Research Goals of Theory in Sociology Description. Gives us the conceptual tools to “see” social reality more fully. Explanation. Most sociological theory attempts to identify causal interrelationships Independent Variable Dependent Variable Criteria of Causation 1) Time Order independent variable must be an antecedent variable 2) Correlation a necessary but not sufficient condition 3) Non-spuriousness ruling out alternative explanations Time Order is Not Always Obvious Web Use Tolerance A finding from the 2000 General Social Survey Measuring Correlations Correlation coefficients vary from – to + They must be examined for statistical significance Positive and negative correlations can both indicate causal relations But correlation does not always indicate causation Nonspuriousness: Is the correlation “spurious”? Variable A Variable B is correlated with A Third Variable is not causally related to What is “spurious” about a spurious correlation is not the correlation. The correlation is real. It is the causal interpretation which is spurious. Some Spurious Correlations Storks and birth rates Storks High Birth Rates Rural Areas X Some Spurious Correlations Large Hands Shoplifting Gender hand size and shoplifting X Some Spurious Correlations Marijuana Use Good health Youth marijuana use and health X