A distinction is made between the logical and empirical aspects of sociological theory. The logical aspects of a theory are denoted as its theoretical orientation. The scope of an orientation consists of those settings in which the orientation is alleged to apply. Within the scope empirically testable theoretical propositions may be derived. A theoretical orientation shared by a community of scientists is seen to correspond to the concept of paradigm. The logically determinate nature of the orientation is seen to explain why a choice among paradigms/orientations cannot be made on empirical grounds. The concepts of orientation, theory, and scope are illustrated by an analysis of recent published articles in sociology.
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