Common methodological framework for theory construction and evaluation in the social and behavioral sciences.

Abstract

In this article, we have presented a general methodological framework for the construction and evaluation of social scientific theories in any domain of human ecology. In addition, we have presented some common fallacies and pitfalls in the nature and construction of scientific theories along with a discussion of 10 basic dichotomous issues important for evaluating contemporary theories and models. Finally, for the positive movement of future scientific work, we have summarized seven major weaknesses and needs in contemporary social scientific research and described the application of the proposed framework to the analysis of 46 child abuse and neglect theories to illustrate the importance of a multidisciplinary integration of future theory development and evaluation through the proposed methodological guidelines.

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