What is concept?

                                                                                         Randhir Gautam

One of the major functions of theory is to order experience with the help of concepts. It also selects relevant aspects and data among the enormous multitude of “facts” that confront the investigator of social phenomena. -

                      Lewis Coser, “The Uses of Classical Sociological Theory,”

Concept is the major constituent of social theory. Concept is language of theorists. Concepts are the tools with which we think,  argue, criticise, analyse and explain. 
Ideas are originated from everyday life, personal experiences, daily observations or creative imagination.

Concept is a generalized idea of class of objects which is a product of mental construct and its meaning is same at all times under certain circumstances. The chief characteristic of social theory is that it constitutes a series of conclusions stated in terms of concepts and them inter relations.   For example, structural theory is made of concepts such as System, equilibrium, dysfunction, division of labor and social order. Social exchange theory is made of concepts such as rewards, approval, sense of gratification, Opportunities, balance, credit. Conflict theory is made of concepts such as social inequality, alienation, Power, exploitation, struggle.  Thus, the process of theory formation then requires concepts formulation and their interrelations.  

 Everything is construct in this world. No theory can construct without concept. No abstraction can be done without concept. Concept is being used for the very purpose to define particular phenomena. concepts are products of mind, and when their meaning is shared, communication of ideas takes place in daily life as well as in intellectual communities. Concepts are mental constructs or logical abstractions. 

 No definition can be absolutely true in social science, therefore a definition is to be understood as a resolution.  A concept is used for precision and to clear researcher’s conception. Therefore, it is important for theoretical formulation.

A researcher must keep in mind that the contracted concept must denote the unique qualities of that which is being defined. Concept development shows a researcher’s maturity. Concept formation is an essential step in the process of reasoning. 

   

Concepts vary according to their level of abstraction

A concept is either defined objectively or operationally. When concept is having empirical variable standardized referents (scales), then it is considered to be objectively defined.

when concept is defined in terms of process or behavior, then it is considered to be operationally.  To operationalize concept means to define concepts in terms of its attributes which could be empirically observed during research.  This is the way to convert concepts into empirical measurements. There is a room for disagreement in such concepts because it lacks uniqueness.

Concepts are used to scaled variables in theory building. A concept is an idea which can either be expressed as a symbol or in words. A good concept has five attributes –  clarity, appropriateness, measurability, reproducibility and comparability.

Theoretical concept is an idea that is thought through, carefully defined, and made explicit in a theory. Concept clarifies thinking. It has a critical role in advancing knowledge and in organizing the way that we conduct research. As social thinker, we tend to define concepts more precisely than what common people perceive in daily life. We link concepts in a theory with research studies and empirical data.  We build up our knowledge of the world not simply looking as it but through developing,  redefining and reexamine concepts which will help us make sense of it.  Concepts are building blocks of human knowledge.  Concepts help in understanding of reality that a science is engaged in studing.