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Unit-3: Basic Concepts : Fact, Concept, Theory and Hypothesis

2. constraint—As is explained earlier, the social facts are not a one man show. A group of note
people or society form it so it very strong but once it is made,each member or person is
constrained or forced to follow that fact as a part of social activities. it also affects the interests
and liking of each social individual. Durkhiem has given examples of various societies where
the norms, values, civic sense, religious beliefs, financial management,human behaviour are
set on the basis of ‘social facts’.

3.4 Concept

What is Concept?

in general ,concept can be called as prefix also. In scientific research, concept is for direct representation,
classification and knowledge. It has an important place in theory formation. At the primary level of
theory formation, the actual situations are converted into factual situations. then they are managed
or analyzed in a logical manner and formation of any theory is done on that basis. Concepts are not
stable but there are continuous changes and development in their meanings.
Every scientific system has a particular set of terminology. The words used in that terminology are
the same as common man’s words but their meanings are different and special sometimes. there are
many such words that are actually a part of common language but when it comes to scientific system,
the meaning is different. e.g., in sociology and human sciences, the words society, community, culture
committee etc. are used in some specific meanings. Here, we could see the example of word ‘uncultured
’ which we use commonly in our daily conversation but positive use of this word in our sociology is
unscientific and impractical. In social language any uneducated person may be called ‘uncultured ’ but
in human science the word uncultured is beyond imagination whether it is a barbaric action also.
When we analyze any concept, then sometimes it becomes difficult to say whether the words are just
terminology or they represent any concept or view. these words are represented, society, culture
etc. the question arises here that what should be the address to such thought and concepts, we will
discuss this as the feature of any concept.
First of all let us take this for granted that the words used in scientific system are standardized and their
form becomes as that of concepts. New words are added in the scientific terminology regularly, we use
them in analysis too and gradually they start being used in the same type of meaning ,thus forming
them as a concept . But the basic difference between a word and concept is that of the dimension of
meaning communication ,e.g., one word may give the meaning of one word only but the ‘concept ’ is
not limited to any literal meaning only and it gives a broad dimensional meaning of that word.
In scientific system, we use minimum words to express any class, group or complex, thus called
concept. there are two important things in it. first, the class,facts or complexes pointed out by any
particular concept will be limited to those facts and complexes permanently. it is not that one can
change the meaning dimension of any concept and increase or decrease as per need. secondly, the total
communicated dimension of the concept not only tell about their nature, but also separate the total
dimension of meaning communication from any concept. e.g., in cultural human science, concepts
related to culture and civilization not only clarify meaning dimension but also separate the two also
while forming any concept the researcher must be careful.

Task What is concept? Explain.

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