COMM 305 1st Edition Lecture 2 Outline of Last Lecture I. Course IntroductionsII. “The map is not the territory”III. Lay Theory vs. Formal Theory: The Empirical WorldOutline of Current Lecture I. Lay Theory vs. Formal Theory (cont.)II. What do theories typically include?III. What should a theory do for us?IV. What questions should we ask about theory?V. Key Theoretical AssumptionsCurrent Lecture- Lay Theory vs. Formal Theory: The Empirical World (cont.)o There are 2 ways of generating theory Go out into the world and to make a theory based of what you observe. Begin with the specific to the general (Induction). Before going out into the world, we can make some guesses. You can make your theory and then test it. Begin with the general to the specific. (Deduction).o The point is to determine what the starting place is. - What do theories typically include?o A description of the phenomenao Relationships among the phenomenao A story about the process captured in the relationship among phenomenao Links to Empirical Think of the maps example because maps have this too. A map has a picture, shows distance, maps tell stories, and describe what you’d see in a specific place. o Like between the empirical world and real world is placeo In theories of social phenomena, how will you know when you see these abstractideas in practice in the real world?- What should a theory do for us?These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.o Solve empirical problems- actively describing what is happening in the real world(what’s actually happening).  Although we get feedback, we’re not very good at it even though we know we need it. Solving an empirical problem on feedback would only be understanding why we are so bad at giving feedback o Solve conceptual problems- refining the theory itself (new definitions, jargon, language to use in the theory) in a way that helps us understand more. (different labeling) As in the feedback example: We may begin by solving a empirical problemto describe how bad we are at it. We may notice work feedback and personal feedback differ. o Solve practical problems- helping people solve the problem. They help us do things to better the “problem” Feedback example: giving bosses information on how to better give feedback. Feedback sandwich tries to solve this. Doesn’t really work.- What questions should we ask about theory?o The pieces- how are they telling the story of phenomena of the theory?o What are the problems with the phenomena?o Scope- to what conditions does the theory apply; what is the theory about? Does the theory balance breadth and balance in a way that’s practical?o Appropriateness- are the assumptions made by the theory a fit for what we’re trying to doo Heuristic Value- will or has the theory generate new theory, research, or ideas?o Parsimony- is it just complicated enough?  Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler. Theory should not make things more complicated.o Validity- is it true and true about the right things? o Openness/accessibility- is the theory open to the community interested in it? Can we access the theory? Problem with educational theories because maybe they’re open to the university, but once you’re off campus, you don’t have access to it anymore. o There are tradeoffs and connections between the above connections.o The more broad you make the theory, the less true it will be. - Key Theoretical Assumptionso Ontology- the nature of being/ the nature of reality  onto(being) ology(the study of/of or relating to) Can our senses be believed? Is the world as we perceive it to be? Realist ontology- believe the world around us is as we perceive it (if you touch your desk, you’re really touching your desk) Their goal is to understand the methods of communication. We know they’re out there we just have to be smart enough to understand them. Nominalist- believe the world is as we decide it is. We all have our own unique experience of the world. Their goal is to come up with better names.  Social constructionist- believe that people create reality together (as a collective). Where nominalists believe what’s mine is mine and I can connect with no one at any point, social constructionists believe that people’s ideas of the world can come together at some common