Theory Concepts

and The
Components of
Theory
Meeting 3

By Romiko

Concept
Konsep

dapat disebut juga ide-ide, yaitu kesan-kesan

yang abstrak dari lingkungan yang diorganisir
melalui symbol-symbol yang nyata (Kerlinger, 2004).
Misalnya konsep mengenai obyek, sifat-sifat dan
kejadian dan lain-lain.
Kumpulan dari konsep-konsep ini akan menyusun
kerangka
konseptual atau model konseptual
yang tersusun dari idea-idea abstrak dan umum dan
preposisi yang menspesifikasi hubungan diantara
keduanya.

Theory
Teori

adalah kumpulan konsep-konsep, definisidefinisi, dan usulan-usulan yang

memproyeksikan sebuah pandangan sistematis
atau fenomena dengan merangcang hubunganhubungan khusus diantara konsep-konsep untuk
keperluan penggambaran, penjelasan,
perkiraan, dan atau mengendalikan fenomena
(Goerge, 2005).

The Components of Theory

A

theory has several components, including

purpose, concepts and definitions, theoretical
statements, structure/linkages and ordering,
and assumptions (Bishop & Hardin, 2006; Chinn
& Kramer, 2008; Powers & Knapp, 2006). C

Purpose
Tujuan dari sebuah teori menjelaskan mengapa teori itu
dirumuskan dan menspesifikasikan pada konteks dan
situasi apa teori itu harus diterapkan (Chinn & Kramer,
2008).
The purpose might also provide information about the
sociopolitical context in which the theory was
developed, circumstances that inuenced its creation,
the theorists past experiences, settings in which the
theory was formulated, and societal trends. The
purpose of the theory is usually explicitly described and
should be found within the discussion of the theory
(Chinn & Kramer, 2008).

Concepts and Definitions

Concepts

are linguistic labels that are assigned to objects or

events and are considered to be the building blocks of
theories.
The theoretical definition defines the concept in relation to
other concepts and permits the description and classification
of phenomena.
Operationally defined concepts link the concept to the real
world and identify empirical referents (indicators) of the
concept that will permit observation and measurement (Bishop
& Hardin, 2006; Chinn & Kramer, 2008; Walker & Avant, 2005).
Theories should include explicit conceptual definitions to
describe and clarify the phenomenon and explain how the
concept is expressed in empirical reality.

Theoretical Statements
Theoretical

statements, or propositions, are

statements about the relationship between two
or more concepts and are used to connect
concepts to devise the theory. Statements
must be formulated before explanations or
predictions can be made, and development of
statements asserting a connection between
two or more concepts introduces the possibility
of analysis (Bishop & Hardin, 2006).

Structure and Linkages

The structure of a theory provides overall form to the
theory. Theory structuring includes determination of the
order of appearance of relationships, identification of
central relationships, and delineation of direction, strength,
and quality of relationships Chinn & Kramer, 2008).
Theoretical linkages offer a reasoned explanation of why
the variables in the theory may be connected in some
manner, which brings plausibility to the theory. When
developed operationally, linkages contribute to the
testability of the theory by specifying how variables are
connected. Thus, conceptual arrangement of statements
and linkages can lead to hypotheses (Bishop & Hardin,
2006).

Assumptions
Assumptions

are notations that are taken to be true

without proof. They are beliefs about a phenomenon
that one must accept as true to accept a theory, and
although they may not be empirically testable, they
can be argued philosophically. The assumptions of a
theory are based on what the theorist considers to
be adequate empirical evidence to support
propositions, on accepted knowledge, or on personal
beliefs or values (Jacox, 1974; McKenna & Slevin,
2008; Powers & Knapp, 2006).

Model

Models are schematic representations of

some aspect of reality. Various media are
used in construction of models; they may
be three-dimensional objects, diagrams,
geometric formulas, or words. Empirical
models are replicas of observable reality
(e.g., a plasticmodel of a uterus or an eye).
Theoretical models represent the real world
through language or symbols and
directional arrows.

Next...
Artinian

(1982) described the rationale for

creating a theoretical or conceptual model.
She determined that models help illustrate the
processes through which outcomes occur by
specifying the relationships among the
variables in graphic form where they can be
examined for inconsistency, incompleteness,
or errors.