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

next generations in a very systematic manner. this trend of transfer of experiences related to culture, note
nature society etc, it is very important and necessary. these theory-based experiences need not be
philosophical only in nature but they may be related to day-to–day problems, e.g., of agriculture,
family, nature etc. in india, the theories related to the experiences of seasons and climate are very
important and proved scientifically correct in many fields, thus they are very popular also. Their
popularity is not just cultural or conservative in nature. it is purely ‘empirical, investigative in nature.
Within certain limits, with the help of a certain process , any theory may be examined again and
again. eventually ,the difference on the basic form of theory amongst the intellectuals is termed as
attitudinal gap. example—one group of intellectuals believes that it is not necessary that the theory
should be examined or ready for examination. this includes the experiences of religious theories etc.
the other view point states that theories should be not only easy to understand and interpret but their
meaning should also be well understood and examination could be done easily. this group includes
many thoughtful researches. the believer of empirical research also follows, this view point. even in
physics, both aspects of theory are accepted. Behind the formation of any theory lies the experience
of thousands of years. the gap of these thousands of years is actually the marker of our capacity. in
this way we can say that theories are not bounded by time period and any region in particular when
our experiences are repeated again and again, then it takes a very systematic form and this takes
the form of any theory. in this process of theory–formation, some words are chosen and repeatedly
used which indicate towards a particular thought are like creepers, that take the help of any tree to
spread and grow. they do not die even if the tree dies. the tree is the word on which the creeper
rests. similarly, the thoughts have to rest on words and as the thoughts grow words also modify and
grow. Mentally or written, these thoughts are expressed in some words which are set and reliable.
And when these experiences take up a fixed form, theories are formed. Those words which alone
represent a set meaning are called in english as terminology. these words which give the meaning
of empirical systems of representations, become concepts and on the basis of these originated and
examined words,along with concept,give rise to theory formation.

self assessment

fill in the blanks:
4. theories related to agriculture are practically ___________ from one generation to the
other.
5. there can be an experience of thousands of years behind any theory and there are such
experiences, and this gap is the measure of their ________.
6. originated and examined words and concepts together form ______________ .

3.9 The Elements of Theory

J.h.turner has mentioned four main elements of theory,which are given below –
1. Concepts
2. Variables
3. statements
4. formats
While analyzing these four elements of theories, turner has tried to clarify these are only main basics
that form any theory. the following discussion on these points are to prove his views-
(I) Concept—Concepts represent any incident out of the total reality,we separate some parts to
understand. this is called concept. Concept is the representation or word (or group of words) which

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