Session 7 - Presentation of candidate theories
We have a presentation and initial discussion of candidate theories for the next formalization exercise.
Overview
| Topic | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Homework wrapup: Productive Explanations | 45 | Apply the three quality criteria to our bystander formalization |
| PhD students present their theoretical frameworks | 60 for each theory |
Prototypical formalization styles:
Narrative Theory Reconstruction (NTR):
- Starting point: The existing verbal theory.
- Main tasks: Read and understand the narrative theory, then formalize it. Check whether a simulation can produce the target phenomenon.
- Of only minor importance: Whether the phenomenon is actually robust.
Theory Construction Methodology (TCM):
- Starting point: A robust phenomenon.
- Main tasks:
- Understand the phenomenon (its robustness, evidence, moderating conditions, operationalizations; search for meta-analyses).
- Invent a new theory that can explain the phenomenon, or use an established theory from another domain and make necessary adjustments (could be within psychology, but also from completely different disciplines).
- Check whether a formal model of your theory produces the phenomenon.
- Of only minor importance: Any existing theory that aims to explain the phenomenon. You might compare your own formal model to existing theories later.
| Formalization Style / Theory | PhD A | PhD B | Any other C | … |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NTR | ||||
| TCM |
Homework (individually)
Think about which theory you want to work on: Either one of the two suggested theories, or propose another one. Next week we will form groups.
Think about:
- Scope: Which aspect of the theory do you want to focus on?
- Target phenomenon
- Which formalization style?