This brief text for students in the social and behavioral sciences provides a formal introduction to the way theories are constructed, stated, tested, and connected together to form a scientific body of knowledge.
"A Primer in Theory Construction" is for those who have already studied one or more of the social, behavioral, or natural sciences, but have no formal introduction to the way theories are constructed, stated, tested, and connected together to form a scientific body of knowledge. The author discusses scientific theories in general terms, but also addresses the special challenges of developing scientific knowledge about social and human phenomena. This Allyn and Bacon Classics Edition contains the complete text of the original copyright 1971 version, with new typography and page design.